Setting Global Benchmarks in Healthcare Quality: A Strategic Dialogue Between Statista and Department of Health – Abu Dhabi

In this exclusive interview, we bring together two leading voices shaping the future of healthcare quality and global benchmarking. Representing Statista and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the discussion explores how validated data, transparency, and international benchmarking are redefining how healthcare systems are measured, compared, and continuously improved—positioning Abu Dhabi as a global reference point for quality-driven healthcare excellence.

Matthias Hirsch, Vice President of Statista Healthcare, leads global healthcare analytics initiatives focused on transforming validated data into trusted, internationally comparable insights.

How did the collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi arise and develop? Why was now the right time to establish this type of partnership?
The collaboration grew out of a shared commitment to data-driven healthcare improvement. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has been implementing one of the region’s most advanced quality measurement systems, anchored in its official circular that mandates that all hospitals regularly report validated KPIs on quality, safety, and performance.

This maturity in data governance has elevated transparency and reinforced a strong culture of continuous improvement across the emirate’s healthcare sector. By integrating these verified indicators into Statista’s and Newsweek’s global hospital-ranking methodology, we can ensure that the representation of Abu Dhabi’s hospitals reflects true performance, grounded in transparency and evidence.

What makes this collaboration with the DoH particularly significant for Statista?
It is Statista’s first formal partnership with a national health authority, a major step in our global healthcare strategy. It demonstrates how high-quality public-sector reporting and independent analytics can complement each other to create trusted, comparable insights. For us, it’s not only a technical collaboration, but it’s a proof point that partnerships built on validated data and integrity can elevate transparency across entire health systems and internationally.

How does this partnership align with the goals and mission of Statista?
Statista’s mission is to make reliable information universally accessible and comparable. In healthcare, that means transforming validated, high-quality data into insights that support better decision-making, transparency and quality advancement. Partnering with the DoH perfectly aligns with this mission: It combines Abu Dhabi’s rigorous reporting with Statista’s analytical expertise and global dissemination, furthering our goal to drive evidence-based improvement worldwide.

In what way does access to validated quality indicators help Statista’s and Newsweek’s global hospital rankings?
Validated indicators strengthen both the accuracy and the credibility of our rankings. They enable us to align international comparisons with reliable performance data. For Abu Dhabi’s hospitals, this means their achievements are reflected accurately and fairly within an international framework, supporting a more nuanced, data-driven picture of global hospital quality.

How does Statista ensure methodological independence when working directly with governmental sources?
Methodological independence is a core principle for Statista. We greatly value collaborations with public institutions, and at the same time, our analytics team maintains full autonomy in how indicators are selected, weighted, and interpreted. Government-verified information contributes valuable context to our methodology, but it does not shape the results themselves. This ensures a transparent process and safeguards the integrity of our rankings as well as the trust placed in us by our partners.

How can this partnership be seen as a blueprint for similar collaborations with other health authorities globally?
The DoH model illustrates how national quality frameworks can connect to international benchmarking in a way that benefits both sides. It demonstrates that validated, standardised indicators and reporting enhance comparability and promote continuous improvement. This approach can serve as a reference for ministries of health, regulators and other stakeholders worldwide that wish to increase visibility through reliable, evidence-based collaboration.

What do ministries of health, public health authorities, and healthcare organizations have to fulfill to become a partner? How can they get in contact with Statista?
Potential partners should maintain validated, quality-assured healthcare performance data and share our values of transparency, methodological rigor, and open collaboration. Institutions interested in exploring such a partnership are welcome to contact Statista Healthcare and reach out to me directly at matthias.hirsch@statista.com for further information.

Which additional indicators could be integrated as the partnership evolves?
The framework is designed to evolve over time. Future phases may integrate additional quality and performance indicators, such as measures related to patient safety, patient experience, or digital transformation, reflecting the ongoing development of healthcare systems worldwide. Statista continuously reviews and refines its metrics to ensure they align with current expert consensus and international best practice in healthcare quality measurement. This commitment ensures that our methodologies remain both rigorous and relevant as standards evolve globally.

Dr. Fayeza Al Yafei, Executive Director of the Healthcare Quality Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, oversees the Emirate’s advanced quality frameworks, driving transparency, safety, and continuous healthcare excellence.

What were the key motivations for the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi to collaborate with Statista?
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) partnered with Statista to strengthen the Emirate’s global visibility in healthcare excellence to hospital quality metrics. This collaboration enables Abu Dhabi’s hospitals to be represented in leading international benchmarking exercises, including Newsweek and Statista’s ‘World’s Best Hospitals’ ranking. The partnership reflects DoH’s commitment to data-driven decision-making, transparency, and continuous quality improvement – reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global benchmark for healthcare quality and innovation.

How does international benchmarking contribute to Abu Dhabi’s healthcare strategy and global positioning?
International benchmarking is a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare strategy, enabling the Emirate to measure its performance against world-leading standards. It demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s progress in building one of the most transparent, advanced, and resilient healthcare systems globally. Benchmarking strengthens international confidence in the Emirate’s health sector by showcasing that Abu Dhabi’s hospitals consistently adhere to the highest standards of quality, safety, and patient outcomes.

Can you describe how hospitals in Abu Dhabi report and validate quality indicators under the DoH framework?
Hospitals in Abu Dhabi submit clinical quality indicators through the DoH’s comprehensive, digitally enabled quality measurement framework. These indicators cover patient safety, clinical effectiveness, and patient experience. Data accuracy is maintained through structured reporting mechanisms, regulatory oversight, and rigorous validation and audit processes. This ensures complete transparency and reliability – enabling seamless alignment with international benchmarking standards, including those used by Statista.

How does the collaboration with Statista support continuous improvement and drive quality-focused healthcare delivery in Abu Dhabi?
The collaboration with Statista embeds global benchmarking methodologies into Abu Dhabi’s quality oversight framework. It enables hospitals to objectively evaluate their performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and work toward higher levels of clinical excellence. By integrating international standards, the partnership accelerates continuous improvement, supports targeted interventions, and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional and global leader in healthcare quality.

How does this partnership support Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision in healthcare?
The partnership advances Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision to build one of the world’s most innovative, transparent, and quality-driven healthcare ecosystems. Through alignment with globally trusted methodologies, DoH strengthens evidence-based decision-making and drives ongoing excellence across the sector. This collaboration positions Abu Dhabi as a global model for healthcare innovation, accountability, and high-quality patient outcomes.