By Mira Achkar, Master’s Candidate, M.P.S. in Insurance Management, School of Professional Studies
When I began my Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management at Columbia University School of Professional Studies, I never imagined that my final applied research project would blur the line between academia and the real world so completely. What started as a classroom inquiry into health care costs quickly turned into a deeper question: Why are we treating illness only after it becomes expensive?
Working in the insurance industry in Dubai, I see firsthand how accessible health care can paradoxically lead to inefficiencies. Patients often have the freedom to visit multiple specialists without a central coordinating physician. While this accessibility is admirable, it can also result in duplicated tests, fragmented care, and rising insurance premiums that affect employers, families, and insurers.
My research focused on a concept that sounds simple but carries significant systemic implications: mandating preventive health screenings within Dubai’s minimum health insurance benefits. The goal is not to add more costs, but to rebalance how resources are used—shifting from reactive, late-stage treatments toward earlier, more structured prevention.
In a market like Dubai, characterized by a young, mobile, and highly expatriate population, insurance-led continuity of care may be one of the most effective tools for preserving long-term health outcomes. My proposal centers on empowering primary care physicians to become the anchor of preventive care— guiding screenings based on age, gender, and risk factors rather than leaving individuals to navigate the system alone. This approach aims to reduce unnecessary testing, detect chronic conditions earlier, and improve both health outcomes and financial sustainability across the system.
The inspiration came from observing international models, particularly Singapore’s “Screen for Life” program, which demonstrated that structured, primary-care-led screenings can improve early detection and stabilize long-term health care costs. What fascinated me was not only the data, but the mindset: Prevention becomes part of national identity rather than an optional add-on benefit.
In Dubai, the challenge is not a lack of doctors or hospitals; it is the absence of continuity. Patients often move between providers with little coordination, resulting in care that is episodic rather than longitudinal.
Beyond individual patient outcomes, this lack of continuity has broader implications for the insurance ecosystem itself. When insurers support structured, primary-care-led pathways, they move from financing isolated medical events to enabling long-term health stewardship. Research consistently shows that continuity of care is associated with improved chronic disease management, reduced hospitalizations, and increased life expectancy. In this sense, insurance becomes not only a mechanism for cost pooling, but a platform that actively supports longevity and wellbeing across the population.
For me, this journey has reinforced that insurance is not only about risk transfer, it is about shaping systems that support healthier lives. The intersection of policy, economics, and human well-being is where meaningful and durable change happens.
As Dubai continues to position itself as a global leader in innovation and smart governance, embedding preventive health care into its insurance framework feels less like a theoretical exercise and more like an inevitable evolution. My hope is that this research contributes—even in a small way—to that broader conversation.
Ultimately, this project reminded me why I chose this field. Insurance, at its best, is not just about protecting against loss. It is about enabling people to live longer, healthier lives with greater security, dignity, and confidence.
Views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Columbia School of Professional Studies or Columbia University.
About the Program
The Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management is for career professionals who want to accelerate their advancement to leadership positions or broaden their expertise in the industry. It accommodates both professionals already working in insurance and those looking to make a career change. The program is part-time, online, and instruction is asynchronous to accommodate working professionals.
Applications are reviewed and candidates are accepted on a rolling basis for the M.P.S. in Insurance Management program. Learn more about the program here.
