Huge response to medical congress

Three of the most critical areas of medicine - patient safety, medical emergencies and primary healthcare - are the centre of attention at the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress and exhibition, officially opened by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court.

He was accompanied by Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Hamad said he was "delighted" by the huge response of the international and regional medical community to the congress and exhibition.

He also praised the medical services and leadership of the United Arab Emirates.

The three-in-one congress runs until 28 October 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and features leading international and regional exhibitor companies from over 20 countries and a series of high level conferences with more than 180 internationally recognised speakers.

Delegates to the conferences include doctors, nurses, clinicians, paramedics, medical technicians and health administrators.

The Patient Safety Congress programme includes conferences and seminars on infection control; global and regional epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance; strategies for 'flu outbreaks; avian influenza; pandemic planning; medical device related infections; among many other topics.

The Emergency Medical Congress conference and seminar programme features EMS safety and response; pre-hospital trauma life support; burn injury management; complex trauma injuries; emergency room protocols; disaster response; incident management; disaster information systems; and pandemic planning.

The Emergency Medical Congress exhibition area also features the largest collection of ambulance and paramedic equipment companies in the region under one roof.

The Primary Healthcare Congress conference and seminar programme includes metabolic syndrome; diabetes diagnosis and management; obesity; cardiovascular disease; bone and joint disorders; urology and nephrology; healthcare management; and many other topics.

"With the enormous and rapid population growth, the regional healthcare sector is expanding at an ever-faster pace which requires a strong focus of an event such as this on the latest research, technologies and trends," said Simon Page, Director of the Life Science Division at IIR Middle East, organisers of the congress.

The Abu Dhabi Medical Congress has received widespread international and regional industry and healthcare sector support including: Partner - SEHA Abu Dhabi Health Services Company; Corporate sponsor - Mubadala Healthcare; Platinum sponsors - the American Heart Association, Mercer Middle East, WorldPoint; Gold sponsors - Schiller, Novo Nordisk, Soma Health, Global Medical Solutions, Maidis; Silver sponsor - Cellestis; Supporting sponsors - Steris, Cardiac Science, Stryker, Getinge, CISA, InterHealth Canada.

The congress is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health, the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Police Wing, Abu Dhabi Emergency and Public Safety Department and Dubai Health Authority.