UAE health firm M42 signs decade-long genomics and digital records deal with Botswana

Abu Dhabi healthcare firm M42 secured a ten-year contract with the government of Botswana to roll out a national genomics programme, digitise health records and boost medicine availability. Working with the Botswana Ministry of Health, the initiative will involve population-level genomic sequencing to generate data for screening treatable conditions. Chief executive Dimitris Moulavasilis said the deal reflects M42's strategy to help nations leapfrog legacy health systems.

Mubadala's life-sciences unit, Mubadala Bio, will support enhancements to pharmaceutical and medical supply chains. A timeline for the sequencing project has not been disclosed. The agreement marks M42's first government-level contract in Africa and represents a significant UAE commercial bet on healthcare.