Arab Health sells out: occupied space up 50 per cent

The exhibition, organised by IIR Exhibitions with official support from the UAE Ministry of Health and the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services, has been the fastest selling show in the event's 29 year history, selling out all eight halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre and registering a 50% increase in occupied space. Pre registration of visitors is substantially up too, by 25%.

For the first time Arab Health, which serves a market estimated to be worth US $74 billion, will feature national pavilions from Brazil, Pakistan, Singapore, Sweden and Turkey. The event will also showcase services offered by more than 100 of the world's top hospitals.

And in a major step forward for accreditation of conferences in the Middle East, delegates to the International Arab Health Congress - the region's biggest programme of medical conferences that will run alongside Arab Health 2004 - will earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits following decisions by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME) and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) of England to give their stamp of approval to the Congress sessions.

"The important role the Congress plays in educating everyone involved in the region in the implementation and delivery of patient services, by giving them access to the very latest medical solutions, is underscored by the support being given by both the AACME and the RCS," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director of organiser IIR's Healthcare Division.

"Arab Health has been working closely with the UAE Ministry of Health to ensure the highest level of accreditation standards for continuing medical education programmes that are vital for physicians and healthcare professionals ongoing knowledge and skills so important to providing patients and communities with optimum care. The credits delegates receive will not only add value to the event but also ensure it remains the leading learning experience for the region's medical professionals"

Hassett said accreditation by AACME was a particularly significant development, as the organisation has served as the international predominant standards-setting and accrediting body for continuing medical education for over 10 years in more than 96 countries worldwide.

AACME provides the highest level of accreditation for nearly 16,000 member governmental and non-governmental hospitals, 5120 medical schools, 1300 medical speciality societies and medical associations and over 610 pharmaceutical companies, in addition to recognising 1230 international medical societies and medical syndicates. The AACME also accredits most medical conferences offered by the World Health Organisation, Ministries of Public Health and medical authorities in 96 countries.

"Successful medical organisations, look for ways to communicate their commitment to excellence," said Hassett. "AACME accreditation shows that an institution is serious about setting, achieving and maintaining high standards for educating their physicians and other health care professionals. Around the world AACME accreditation is a recognised symbol of quality in the delivery of medical education.

"AACME accreditation of the International Arab Health Congress will have a profound impact on the development of healthcare in the Middle East. It will not only ensure that the region's medical professionals maintain their compliance with national and global standards but also gain maximum knowledge benefit in the ever changing latest medical diagnosis and procedures.

"We are also very grateful for the support of the Arab German Medical Services, the Hamburg Hospital Association, the Committee for Promoting German Medicine in Foreign Countries and Bayern International, which through its regional hospitals, has agreed to sponsor many of Germany's leading medical practitioners as speakers at the Congress."

According to Hassett, the size and scope of Arab Health ranks it as one of the biggest and most important medical shows in the world. "Each year millions of dollars of business is contracted and literally hundreds of new products, services and technologies, from the world's leading medical companies and institutions, are seen for the first time in the Middle East," he said.

"The exceptional response to Arab Health 2004, from the regional and international medical community, comes as no surprise and reflects the huge investments being made by both the public and private sectors in healthcare, driven by the growing demand for first class treatment and associated services.

"The unrelenting pace of development of the Middle East medical sector, and its increasing sophistication, has been matched by the rapid growth of Arab Health. Since 2001 it has expanded from 8,500 square metres to 17,500 square metres, while at the same time shifting from a biennial show to an annual one.

"Next year - the exhibition's 30th anniversary - will be no different. I confidently expect Arab Health to continue its strong growth to 20,000 square metres and include an enlarged conference programme," Hassett said.

New developments for Arab Health 2004, that will run until January 21 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC), include a dedicated Hospital Design and Interiors (HDI) show. It will bring together, for the first time under one roof, public and private healthcare providers and executives with facility planners and managers, designers, architects and contractors.

"HDI is aimed at bringing care providers and healthcare executives from the public and private sectors together with facility planners and managers, designers, architects and contractors, within a forum that showcases the most progressive developments in healthcare design," said Hassett.

The exhibition will showcase a plethora of new products that not only relate to the design and efficient use of medical facilities but also address critical issues such as infection control, air filtration, waste management, water treatment, cleaning and catering.

Supporting HDI will be a full three-day conference, from January 19-21, 'Project Management - the key to successful development of new and refurbished interiors.'

Germany will once again be the largest group at the exhibition with three major pavilions in Halls 4, 5 and 7. Over 200 companies and 60 of Germany's finest hospitals and clinics will be participating. Within the official Federal government supported pavilion there will be regional groupings showcasing their medical specialisms. Regional states taking part will include Bavaria, Hamburg, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Rheinland-Phalz, Saarland and Meclenburg-Vorpommern. Berlin is also expected to confirm its participation. The German Healthcare Export Group that represents Germany's healthcare exporters will be showcasing many products which will be making their Middle East debut.

As well as being the largest group at Arab Health, Germany will also be the largest group in the event's International Health Services (HIS) vertical show. Participants in IHS will include Bayern International whose pavilion will feature over 20 specialist centres; the Arab German Medical Society; the Hamburg Hospital Association and the Committee for Promoting German Medicine in Foreign Countries. In addition, long time independent supporters of Arab Health, the University Hospital Freiburg and the University Hospital Mannheim will have stands within the IHS arena.

Other countries with a large number of companies participating include the UK and Italy. The UK presence at Arab Health will be the Kingdom's largest ever with over 120 of Britain's finest healthcare providers and suppliers displaying at the event. Meanwhile, Italy will be represented by over 70 companies, many of them making their first appearance at Arab Health.

Sweden's participation means that three Scandinavian countries - the other two being Denmark and Finland - will be represented at the exhibition. "Scandinavian countries provide their populations with some of the highest quality public healthcare service in the world," said Hassett.

"The investment in healthcare services is matched by the investment in specialist and innovative products produced by each of the countries, many of which will be displayed in their Hall 6 pavilions."

International exhibitors with bigger stands at the show include Germany's Trumpf Medizin Systeme and Karl Storz Endoskope; France's GE Medical Systems; Switzerland's Stryker Osteonics and MPS; Holland's Philips Medical Systems; Saudi Arabia's Saad Specialist Hospital and Medical Centre and UAE-based Johnson & Johnson Middle East, Gulf Drug Establishment, AMT, Siemens and Modern Pharmaceutical Company. There will also be major participation by Dubai Healthcare City one of the most innovative healthcare projects in the world.

Adel Saeed Al Shamsi, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City said, "Dubai Healthcare City will have a strong presence in the Arab Health 2004 being the lead sponsors of the event. Along with its partners such as Harvard Medical International, Mayo Clinic, Elaj Medical Services and Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Center, DHCC will announce the new investors and the current status of the project at the Exhibition."

Al Shamsi added: "Dubai Healthcare City aims to position itself amongst the leaders of the healthcare industry. DHCC is participating in Arab Health 2004 to create further awareness in the healthcare industry, liase with potential partners and attract institutions that want to establish a presence at DHCC.

"Exhibitors from all over the world will be represented at the Arab Health 2004 that will include hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, emergency specialists, healthcare recruitment services, consultancy, telemedicine and other medical services involved in the growing world wide market for healthcare facilities, all of which are the market for Dubai Healthcare City," Al Shamsi added

"Arab Health is the most important healthcare gathering in the Middle East. It plays a crucial role in educating everyone involved in the implementation and delivery of patient services by giving them access to the very latest medical solutions," said Hassett.

"We are very grateful for the support of Dubai Healthcare City. As one of the leading healthcare authorities of the region, DHCC's presence at Arab Health is crucial to showcasing the future of the recent and future developments of the region's healthcare industry. Representing globally reputable partners at its stand, DHCC is certainly going to attract significant interest amongst 1250 healthcare companies at the event."

Underlining the leading role Arab Health plays in the development of the region's healthcare industry, new products and services making their Middle East debut will be advances in DNA testing; the latest intensive care respiratory devices; state-of-the-art scanning and diagnostic equipment; human embryo transfer technology; innovative non-adhesive medical products; new developments in food supplements; valveless infant ventilators; foot and wound care products and equipment designed to prevent cross infections in hospitals and other medical facilities.

"Arab Health is not just a buying and selling market place. It is a forum where healthcare professionals can see the latest technology and hear about the latest advances in treatment and patient care," Hassett said. "It also allows practitioners the opportunity to discuss their needs with manufacturers. This enables manufacturers to develop specially focussed products.

"Arab Health makes a direct contribution to the development of the Middle East's health services by ensuring increasing numbers of medical professionals, from all specialities and disciplines, see at first hand the latest developments in patient care and health service management. No other medical event, in the region, fulfils that role," added Hassett.

Arab Health 2004 will feature four vertical events - IHS, a dedicated show for hospitals, clinics and insurance companies involved in the expanding world wide market for overseas and distance healthcare facilities; Pharmacy; Arab Dentistry and MedLab, for laboratory and biotechnology products.

Serving a rapidly expanding market, valued at over US $2 billion, Arab Dentistry, launched in 2002, has immediately proved itself as the one show in the region that meets the demand for both exhibitors and visitors within the sector.

"Dental equipment has always been an important part of Arab Health. It attracts more dentists, hospital managers and health ministry officials than any other event. At the 2003 show almost 40 per cent of visitors, over 6,300, said dental products and services were of primary interest to them. With many new exhibitors from over 25 countries, including, for the first time, an Italian national pavilion, Arab Dentistry will be a launch pad into the Middle East market for numerous products and services new to the region," said Hassett.

As well as Arab Dentistry, Arab Health 2004 will include Pharmacy, the only Middle East event dedicated to pharmacists, general practitioners and hospital medical staff and Medlab, for laboratory and biotechnology and diagnostic products.

"The region's pharmaceutical market is valued at over US$ 4 billion, placing it among the world's top 10 markets, with an annual expansion rate of 9%," said Hassett. According to industry figures Saudi Arabia is the largest Middle East market for pharmaceuticals, accounting for 65% of Gulf sales alone. Meanwhile, Dubai's pharmaceuticals and health equipment sector grew by nearly 45% between 1997 and 2001. The total trade, combining imports, exports and re-exports, grew by US $ 64.6 million over the same period, from US $ 144.4 million to US $ 209 million.

"Pharmacy will be an important forum for industry professionals seeking information on the latest advances. High profile industry specific seminars, given by leading pharmaceutical companies, will reinforce Arab Health's position as the leading regional showcase for new products," said Hassett.

"Among other things it will reflect growing regional interest in complimentary medicines and natural remedies," said Hassett. "Vitamin and mineral supplements are no longer outside the mainstream of healthcare. The high cost of developing new synthetic medications is helping to drive the demand upward for natural health care solutions.

"Industry figures show that the Middle East is the second fastest growing over the counter market in the world and vitamins and mineral supplements are the third fastest growing category in that sector worldwide."

Meanwhile, Medlab will be the largest exhibition of its kind in the region. "No other event meets the demand of both exhibitors and visitors within this multi billion dollar product area," said Hassett. "Medlab will mirror the latest trends in this important healthcare sector, including the emergence of computerised handheld testing machines, such as those for analysing DNA."

The International Arab Health Congress will include 11 dedicated forums covering plastic surgery, otology, obesity and diabetes, new approaches in healthcare management, advanced minimally invasive surgery, hypertension, dentistry, hospital design and a women's health symposium.

It will also host an expanded three-day 'Middle East Imaging and Diagnostic Conference', organised in association with the UAE Ministry of Health and with sponsorship by Philips Medical Systems and GE Medical Systems. The Imaging and Diagnostic Conference will include a mini PACS symposium sponsored by Agfa-Gevaert NV. The conference programme also includes the four-day '3rd Middle East International Plastic Surgery and Laser Congress' (MEPLAST 2004).

IIR have invited many of the world's leading experts to address the one-day forum on 'Diabetes and Obesity - A Global Epidemic', on January 19. Among those who will address the key issues impacting on the prevention and treatment of both diabetes and obesity will be Dr O M N Khatib, WHO's Regional Advisor for Non Communicable Diseases, who will highlight the causes behind the rapid increase in both conditions in the Middle East.

Other speakers will include Dr Abdulrahman Musaiger, Head, Arab Centre for Nutrition and Chairman of ATFOPA. Dr Musaiger, who is also Director of Nutritional Studies at the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research, will look at the link between obesity and physical activity. Prof Hans-Peter Hammes, Director of Endocrinology Department, University of Mannheim will address diabetes complications; Dr K P Otto, Assistant Medical Director of Paediatrics, Catholic Children's Hospital, Hamburg will put obesity diagnosis and therapy in children and adolescents under the microscope; Dr Sethu Reddy, Chairman, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Cleveland Clinic will focus on advances in the treatment of Type II diabetes and Dr Manfred Dreyer, from the Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, Bethanien Krankenhaus, Hamburg will provide an update on blood glucose management.

The four-day 'Otology Update' conference will focus on Cholesteatoma; Vertigo; facial nerve tumours and other conditions; auricle and ear canal reconstruction, diseases and lesions; implantable devices; Chronic Otitis Media; hearing loss; CP Angle Lesions and Cochlear implants, with a particular focus on implants in developing countries and experiences from across the Middle East. The final day, January 21 will see two mini courses on evaluating dizzy patients.

Experts addressing the conference will include Dr Hussein Abdulrahman, head of Otolaryngolgy, Dubai Department of Health and President of the GCC Otolaryngolgy Society. He has been a leader in establishing educational forums for otolaryngologists in the Middle East.

Other speakers will be Dr Nabil Fuleihan, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at the American University, Beirut; Dr Anil Lalwani, Mendik Foundation Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology, NYU School of Medicine; Dr Lawrence R Lustig, Associate Professor of Otology, Neurology and Skull Base Surgery at John Hopkins University Hospital, Dr Samuel Selesnick, Vice Chairman and Professor, Department of Otohinolaryngology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Dr Aziz Belal, Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria University, Philip Wackym, Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College, Wisonsin Milwakee and Hussam El-Kashlan, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

The two-day 'New Approaches in Healthcare Management conference will focus on disease management, including the implementation of detection and monitoring processes and workplace health promotion.

Conference speakers will include: Kayleen Fiddes, Project Manager, Victorian Centre for Ambulatory Care Innovation, Australia; Gawaine Powell Davies, Coordinator of the Centre for General Practice Integration, Centres for Primary Health Care and Equity, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sydney; Professor Maurice B Mittelmark, President, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, University of Bergen Norway; Robert Karch, American University, National Centre for Health Fitness, Washington; Wolf Kirsten, International Health Consulting, Berlin and John Griffiths, Public Health Consultant work2health, UK.

They will examine issues related to disease management for chronic medical patients; detecting and monitoring high risk patients to prevent chronic disease outcomes; disease management from a health insurance perspective; diet, physical activity and health and reducing risks and promoting healthy life at the workplace.

The 'Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery' (MIS) conference, on January 20 and 21, will look at the role of MIS in total joint replacement surgery; spinal MIS; gastric banding and gastric bypass and MIS in Bariatric surgery.

The forum will also include a panel discussion on the 'Truth and Value' of advanced MIS in a New World economy; a live surgery demonstration and interactive discussion involving Dubai's American Hospital and two workshops sponsored by Stryker Osteonics.

Meanwhile, the two-day 'Cutting Edge Dentistry' conference will centre on implantology, aesthetic and restorative dentistry, peridontology and the management of complex cases. It will bring together leading experts in the field from Germany, the US, Saudi Arabia, France and the UAE.

For the first time the International Arab Health Congress will include a dedicated forum for discussing women's health issues on January 18. The 'Women's Health Symposium', with sponsorship from Germany's Bioscientia, Centre for Human Genetics and Gynecare, will include a live surgery demonstration from Dubai's American Hospital as well as focusing on Stress Incontinence; innovative Hysteroscopy techniques; breast diseases, Cervical Cancer and infertility treatment.

Running concurrently with the 'Women's Health Symposium', the 'Pharma' conference will concentrate on hypertension and associated conditions. It will address current trends in HT treatment; the management and treatment of coronary heart disease; the ability of anti-hypertensive agents to prevent strokes; the treatment of HT in patients with renal diseases and diabetic nephropathy and what's new in Lipid Lowering.

'MEPLAST 2004' will address issues associated with Cranio Maxillo-Facial Surgery; the use of lasers in plastic surgery; breast surgery, micro surgery and facial aesthetic surgery. It will also include a series of workshops on Botox, sponsored by Allergan; soft tissue fillers, sponsored by Rofil Medical International and Endoscopic plastic surgery, sponsored by Karl Storz, as well as a live operatory workshop from the Gulf Plastic Surgery Hospital.

Arab Health will also host the three-day 'Middle East Imaging and Diagnostic Conference' that will focus on CT, MRI and PET imaging. It will also include a session on live 3D ultrasound imaging of the heart, sponsored by Philips Medical Systems and clinical 3T MR, sponsored by GE Medical Systems.

Hamad Kazim, the Ministry's Director of Federal Radiology, who will Chair the conference said: "Radiology methods and technology are evolving very rapidly. Holding the radiology conference as part of Arab Health will ensure health service professionals can tap into the latest developments. This will help ensure the best medical care is available.

"Leading radiology staff, as well as clinicians and surgeons who are directly involved in imaging diagnosis will attend the conference which will be addressed by experts in breast, cardiac and coronary imaging, interventional radiology, digital radiography and PACS."

Arab Health 2004 will see the inauguration of a new series of health awards to honour outstanding contributions to the Middle East's health industry. The 'Middle East Arab Health' awards have been set up by IIR and are supported by Arab Health Magazine and Middle East Health magazine - the region's two most important healthcare sector magazines.

The awards will recognise individuals, teams, organisations, partnerships and medical suppliers, for their work in helping improve healthcare services, from countries across the GCC, Yemen, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

"Arab Health is a fitting forum for us to honour those individuals and organisations which have been providing the highest level of services to the community in the last year," said Hassett.

Award categories will span: technological innovation; specialist achievement awards for radiology, surgery, pharma, support services, hospital development; best public-private healthcare partnership; best international healthcare partnerships; outstanding contribution to regional healthcare service and Middle East dealer/distributor of the year.

A panel of eminent regional and international experts chaired by Prof. Joel J Nobel, MD, founder and president emeritus of international healthcare advisory body ECRI (formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute) will select the winners.

Sponsored by Al Zahra Hospital, Philips Medical Systems, GE Medical Systems, the Saudi German Hospitals Group and Stryker, the awards will be presented at a gala dinner and award ceremony on January 20. Tickets for the gala dinner are available to Arab Health 2004 visitors, exhibitors and other healthcare professionals.