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Dubai to host largest Arab Health meeting

DUBAI — Arab Health 2005 will be the largest multi-track medical congress held anywhere in the world, with 14 individual medical conferences on a wide range of subjects held simultaneously over a four-day period. All the conferences are accredited by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME).

Opening on February 12, Arab Health 2005 is expected to attract 25,000 medical professionals from all over the world.

The medical exhibition at Arab Health 2005 alone will fill all eight halls at the Dubai International Convention Centre (DICC), as well as the Shaikh Rashid Hall, with 2,000 exhibitors confirmed.

“This is the largest Arab health meet ever, 30 per cent bigger than the last year’s. There isn’t any spare space left at the DICC. All the halls, including the concourse, will be used by Arab Health 2005. It's the largest multi-track medical congress anywhere in the world,” according to John Hassett, Exhibitions Director, IIR Exhibitions, who addressed members of the Press yesterday at the Emirates Towers Hotel.

The Arab Health exhibition will include 27 national pavilions and exhibitors from 50 countries. The growth rate of Arab Health is unmatched by any global health care event and this year’s exhibition is expected to register an increase of over 25 per cent on last year’s figures.

In its 30th year, Arab Health Exhibition and Congress is the largest health care event in the Middle East and one of the most important in the world today. It is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health, the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) and the General Authority for Health Services in Abu Dhabi. The Dubai Health Care City is the leading sponsor of Arab Health 2005.

“Arab Health 2005 will confirm Dubai as the focal point of health care activity in the region where professionals and the medical trade will gather to strike new deals and make new announcements. Key regional and international players will offer the latest developments, showcase advances and demonstrate an extensive range of the latest products and services,” Hassett added.

The medical conferences at Arab Health include: Leaders in Health Care on the 12th of the month; Middle East East Orthopaedics Symposium on the 12th; Complementary Medicine: Evidence Based Treatments, from the 12th to the 13th; Otolaryngology Update, from the 12th to the 15th; Advances in Laparoscopic Surgery, from the 13th to the 14th; Partnering for Quality Care, from the 13th to the 15th; and the Middle East Laboratory Medicine Conference, from the 13th to the 15th; First International Conference of the Gulf Group for the Study of Diabetes, from the 13th to the 15th; the Middle East Imaging and Diagnostic Conference, from the 13th to the 15th, the Middle East Plastic Surgery and Laser Congress, from the 13th to the 15th; Hospital Design Upgrade, from the 13th to the 15th, Forum for Dentistry, from the 14th to the 15th; the Middle East Oncology Symposium, from the 14th to the 15th; and the First Middle East Wounds Congress, from the 13th to the 14th of the month. In addition the AACMA will hold a workshop on February 13th.

Dr Jurgen Friedrich, Head of the German-UAE Chamber of Commerce, addressing the Press, highlighted Germany’s presence at Arab Health.

“Germany is proud to be participating again in Arab Health. We represent the largest country pavilion and this will also mark the largest stand we have ever had at an exhibition anywhere in the world. Germany is proud to have a great relationship with the Middle East and hopes to build upon that at this year’s exhibition,” he said.

One of the major highlights of Arab Health 2005 is the Leaders in Healthcare Summit organised in association with Dubai Health Care City (DHCC) on February 12th.

Six of the world’s top health care industry CEOs will be participating in this summit, with participation by institutions such as The Cleveland Clinic, Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, Partners Healthcare Systems Inc., University Hospital Hamburg - Eppendorf, Johns Hopkins International and Harvard Medical International.

Ian Lauritzen, Regional Director - Middle East, Philips Medical Systems, said: “Philips Medical Systems have now been the platinum sponsor for the Middle East Imaging and Diagnostic Conference for the past four years. Education of medical professionals is a key goal of Philips Medical Systems and we are proud to sponsor such prestigious conferences.”