Al Midfa to open Arab Health 2004

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and President, Department of Health and Medical Services, Arab Health will feature 1600 exhibitors from more than 50 countries. It will provide an unparalleled showcase for the latest advances in healthcare, many of which will be seen for the first time in the region.

Twenty five national pavilions are confirmed with first time participation from Brazil, Singapore, Sweden and Turkey. The event will also showcase the services offered by more than 100 of the world's top hospitals.

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.

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.

"Arab Health has always occupied an important position in the Middle East medical calendar. But, as the regional demand for the modern healthcare solutions has grown, so too has Arab Health's status on the global calendar. It is now one of the world's top annual medical events," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director, Healthcare Division, for organisers IIR Exhibitions.

"Visitors will have a unique opportunity to source the very latest in medical equipment and services from the world's top healthcare companies."

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.

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 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. New this year is HDI - Hospital Design and Interiors which will run parallel to the exhibition.

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 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).

Arab Health 2004 will also 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.

Occupying all eight halls at the DIEC for the first time Arab Health will run until Wednesday, January 21. It is officially supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services.