GE Healthcare Middle East Media Summit to draw attention to emerging trends and healthcare challenges

The annual summit reflects the global vision of GE Healthcare, which revolves around its 'Early Health' model of care focused on early diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention.

One of the major topics to be addressed at the summit is the emerging trends in the detection of breast cancer in the Middle East.

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.

It is the most common cancer among women worldwide, accounting for 23% of all new cancer cases.

The Gulf region has taken several pioneering initiatives in increasing awareness about breast cancer and screening.

This follows independent research on the rising incidence of the problem, which can be managed through timely screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Early diagnosis is key in increasing the survival rate of those suffering from breast cancer.

According to statistics1, the chances of survival of breast cancer if detected within 5 years are 87%, but this decreases to 52% after 20 years.

Worldwide statistics are alarming.

More than one million new cases of breast cancer are reported annually and more than 400,000 women die each year from the disease2.

The risk of a woman developing breast cancer during her lifetime is approximately 13%.

From 1998-2001, breast cancer was the single most commonly occurring cancer among the UAE population accounting for 22.8% of all cases in women.

In the region the highest incidence is in Kuwait with close to 80 to 100 per 100,000 cases.

Egypt is one of the first countries in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region to successfully launch a breast cancer-screening program.

Using GE's digital mammography mobile solution, local healthcare professionals readily travel from city to city, with the target to reach more women for breast cancer assessment.

The imaging data transfer is done via satellite transmission to a center for analysis and diagnosis.

It is one of the first programs in Europe to implement images transmission via satellite.

Dr. Dorria Salem, Professor of Radiology at Cairo University, one of the keynote speakers at this year's summit, said: "Education is the key to increasing the rate of breast cancer detection and promoting the concept of early health. The plan is to create an academy to deliver the message about the benefits of breast cancer screening for women in the Middle East."

Detection through routine mammographies and self-breast exams, together with improved treatments, has meant an increase in survival rates.

Today, on average, 95% of women who are detected with breast cancer at its early stages will survive more than five years after the diagnosis.

This year's summit aims to address the challenges and emerging trends as well as help raise awareness about the "Early Health" model of care as it relates to the management of breast cancer and other disease trends in the Middle East region, such as the increased incidence of cardiac disease.

GE Healthcare invests US$1 billion annually in global research and development to bring to market innovative tools that can potentially help healthcare professionals diagnose disease at an earlier stage - which ultimately benefits the patient.

Richard di Benedetto, President and CEO, GE Healthcare, International - Eastern and Africa Growth Markets (EAGM), said: "We are in the business of finding solutions for healthcare that really bring a change to people's lives. By actively reaching out to the media and other stakeholders by leveraging this summit platform and its panel of regional experts, GE Healthcare is responding to the need for more knowledge and awareness about the region's health burdens. By collaborating with local universities and engineering companies as well as partnering with local healthcare providers, we intend to help transform healthcare delivery across the region."

The Middle East region is considered home to one of the fastest growing healthcare infrastructures.

Healthcare providers are facing increasing demand for more and better quality services from patients and enhanced performance and profitability from shareholders.

The spread of awareness about the importance of quality healthcare delivery and increased knowledge about the different disease areas is vital in helping improve the standard of healthcare in the region.