Health minister Al Midfa opens biggest ever Arab Health Show

Some 1,600 exhibitors from 50 countries are taking part in the show, which fills eight halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre and runs until Wednesday night. It features 25 national pavilions with first time participation from Brazil, Singapore, Sweden and Turkey.

"The standard of this show is excellent and the variety of exhibitors means all sectors of the healthcare industry are represented," said Al Midfa. "This is the most important event of its kind for the region."

Al Midfa went on to outline that the UAE's 2004 healthcare budget will focus mainly on new build and renovation of medical centres. "This will include the new Al Amal hospital in Dubai and a series of new dental centres," he said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Iraqi healthcare professionals visited Arab Health on the opening day at the invitation of the UK and US governments. The delegation of 11 healthcare professionals represented a cross section of both the public and private healthcare sectors in Iraq concerned with creating long-term plans for rebuilding the healthcare system.

"The delegation includes key players from the procurement areas of the Ministry of Health, as well as senior figures from private hospitals, scientific councils and postgraduate medical schools within Iraqi universities," said a spokesperson for the US Commercial Service.

The Iraqi delegation initiative is led by the US Department of Commerce, the UK Trade and Investment, US Department of Health and Human Services and the UK's Department of Health. It is also supported by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, Arab Health organisers IIR Exhibitions, as well as private sector organisations from both host countries.

The UK and US are jointly hosting a full programme over the four days of Arab Health, which will include seminars with their hosts, meetings with exhibitors and social events to generate more informal personal networking opportunities.

"This delegation represents an important breakthrough for Arab Health," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director of organiser IIR's Healthcare Dviision. "The vast rebuilding and re-equipping needs of Iraq's healthcare sector will be a key focus for the Middle East for some time to come."

Meanwhile, the stage is set for the first health awards to honour outstanding contributions to the Middle East's health industry which are being staged in co-operation with Arab Health. The 'Middle East Arab Health' awards will be held on Tuesday evening (January 20th) at The Fairmont Hotel, Dubai.

The awards have been established by IIR Exhibitions and are supported by Arab Health Magazine and Middle East Health magazine. They 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 2004 features 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 runs parallel to the exhibition. Scheduled to open tomorrow (January 19) at Arab Health is a three-day conference 'Project Management - the key to successful development of new and refurbished interiors.' The event is part of the HDI programme.

Also due to take place tomorrow (January 19) as part of the Arab Health Congress, which includes 11 dedicated forums, is a one-day conference on 'Diabetes and Obesity - A Global Epidemic.' Among speakers will be Dr. O.M.N. Khatib, the World Health Organisation's Regional Advisor for Non Communicable Diseases, who will highlight the causes behind the rapid increase in both conditions in the Middle East and Dr. Sethu Reddy, Chairman, Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Cleveland Clinic, part of the Worldcare Consortium, who will explain Type II Diabetes - New Chances & Advances for diabetics.

Arab Health is 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.