Primary healthcare high on agenda at Abu Dhabi Medical Congress

Primary healthcare has increasingly become the focus of attention for health services in countries across the globe. It is now seen as a crucial way to protect the health of the public while reducing costs. However, implementing a primary healthcare policy is no easy task. That's why Simon Page, the Director of the Life Science Division at IIR Middle East believes ADMC will offer solutions to many of the problems being encountered.

"Providing primary healthcare isn't without its problems because you're talking about building a system that is the first point of contact the public has with the health service," he said. "You have to consider patients in urban and rural areas, and how best to cater to their needs. Another factor is health screening programmes and what's feasible and what isn't. It's these issues that will be raised at the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress and the findings of international experts will be discussed," he added.

Primary healthcare is the basis of every healthcare system and is the first point of contact for individuals, the family and community.

ADMC will act as a catalyst for hospitals, healthcare centres and government agencies to make primary healthcare their highest priority, as well as draft guidelines for setting up practical methodologies to help clinicians and managers make this a reality.

"The Abu Dhabi Medical Congress is part of the support structure for the medical community at large," Page said. "Whether it's implementing a successful vaccine programme for children, or educating a small village about obesity, we want our delegates to leave the congress knowing what can be achieved through a well thought out primary healthcare policy," he added.