Philips checks the health of hundreds of visitors at the Women's Healthcare 2009 Exhibition

The initiative is part of Philips' ongoing health awareness campaign on promoting 'prevention before cure'.

The health tests could potentially identify early warning signs of heart problems and diabetes, two diseases that are prevalent in the Middle East.

A specially-created mobile health check unit was placed at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, offering health assessments including glucose, blood pressure, lung capacity and Body Mass Index tests, to those visiting the exhibitions.

The tests were conducted by a team of pharmacists from Life Pharmacy. During the four days of the exhibition the team of pharmacists completed close to 1,000 tests.

Louis Hakim, vice president Royal Philips Electronics and Chief Executive Officer of Philips Middle East, said:

"The initiative reflects Philips' focus on health management outside the hospital, empowering people to take better care of their health. It also highlights the company's commitment to improving patient care at every stage including helping diagnose health problems early to prevent future disease."

Norman Peter, Business Development Manager of Life Pharmacy stated, "We are very happy to have started this collaboration in helping educate and promote 'prevention before cure' as the number of people suffering from health issues such as diabetes continues to rise in the UAE".

"If health issues are detected at an early stage, the patient will be at a lower risk of having the health problem develop into a chronic disease in the future".