Global healthcare firms take notice as UAE expenditure on diabetes treatment reaches up to $200m annually

According to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the Emirates Diabetes Congress (EDC) 2009, which begins today November 07, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, will be an excellent avenue for healthcare providers and institutions from the public and private sectors to promote and share best practices, present the latest innovations and create awareness about the emerging challenges and opportunities in the treatment and prevention of diabetes in the UAE and the Middle East region.

"It becomes ever more important for leading medical authorities on diabetes worldwide to come together more often to better understand, educate and impart relevant training to counter its spread and to develop new and improved ways to offer medical care to all those suffering from it,"

said Dr. Abdulrazzaq Ali Al Madani, the congress president, in his welcome message.

Held in connection with the World Diabetes Day, EDC 2009 - which runs till November 8 - has gathered close to 1,000 specialists and researchers in diabetes, who will collaborate and participate in discussions focusing on diabetes-related issues affecting the UAE and the entire Middle East region. Activities of the congress will cover recent landmark clinical trials, evaluating efficacy and safety of existing and new treatment strategies and therapeutic options.

Dr. Abdelkader El-Hasnaoui, Medical Director for Middle East and North Africa region, GSK said: "The number of diabetes cases in the UAE, and rest of the region is very alarming and requires utmost attention from all concerned healthcare authorities and institutions. GlaxoSmithKline has thrown its full support to the Emirates Diabetes Congress as we intend to encourage all stakeholders in the healthcare industry to act proactively in the treatment and prevention of this dreaded disease."