UAE and Saudi share first Arab Health awards

The awards, launched to honour outstanding contributions to the Middle East's health industry, were organised by Arab Health Magazine and Middle East Health magazine - the region's most important healthcare publications - to coincide with Arab Health - the region's premier hospital, medical equipment and services event, organised by IIR Exhibitions.

A panel of eminent regional and international experts, chaired by Prof. Joel J. Nobel, MD, founder and president emeritus of the international healthcare advisory body ECRI - formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute - made unanimous selections of the award recipients.

Among UAE recipients was the Federal Ministry of Health's radiology department, which took the 'Specialist Achievement Award In Radiology.' The award recognised the department's efforts in implementing international standards of excellence and a continuing education programme for health professionals in its system.

The 'Specialist Achievement Award For Pharma' went to Neopharma of Abu Dhabi for its initiative in the local production of pharmaceutical products.

The 'Best Use Of Public-Private Partnerships In Health' went to Abu Dhabi's Al Noor Hospital for its nursing education initiative with Abu Dhabi Hospital.

'Best Use of International Health Partnerships' went to Dubai Healthcare City for establishing an excellent working relationship with Harvard International.

The Middle East dealer / distributor of the year award was bagged by Gulf Drug Establishment, which collected the maximum number of votes.

Recipients from Saudi Arabia included Sepco of Riyadh, which took the 'Specialist Achievement Award For Support Services.' This was in recognition of the development and implementation of its extensive services in medical waste management.

The 'Specialist Achievement Award For Hospital Development' went to the Saudi-German Hospital Group for its extraordinary efforts and successes in developing hospitals in the Middle East.

The 'Outstanding Contribution To Regional Healthcare Services' went to Riyadh's Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City for its contributions to relief programmes.

The 'Technological Innovation' award was won by Riyadh's Waseel ASP. This was the first regional company to create a seamless electronic link between healthcare providers and their customers with an online billing system.

Prof. Nobel praised the establishment of the awards and said the honours scheme would be expanded for the 2005 event.

"The initiative to establish these awards was excellent because we need to encourage good performance of accomplishments and publicly recognise the service and care providers as examples of excellence," he said. "This is now going to be an annual awards programme and next year we will expand the categories," he said.

Though nominations for the awards came mainly from the GCC, primarily Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Arab Health organisers, IIR Exhibitions, says the honours catchment area would be expanded for the future.

"People have now seen the awards in action and news will spread," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director, IIR Healthcare Division. "We believe the awards have now established their credibility and look forward to nominations from throughout the wider Arab World next year."

The awards are among a series of initiatives launched to expand the Arab Health profile and propelled the exhibition and its associated congress into one of the most important healthcare events in the world.

"Compared with other international exhibitions in the US, Europe and the Far East, Arab Health is outstanding and invaluable to the health industry," said Prof. Nobel. "It is growing at a great rate.

"Dubai and Arab Health are absolutely the best way of meeting Middle Eastern healthcare professionals and companies. Dubai is an extraordinary venue for meeting industry professionals from around the world."

Some 1,600 exhibitors from more than 50 countries are taking part in the Arab Health exhibition, which fills eight halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre and runs until Wednesday evening (January 21). The show also features 25 national pavilions, including first time participation from Brazil, Singapore, Sweden and Turkey.

Arab Health 2004 features four vertical events - IHS, a dedicated show for hospitals, clinics and insurance companies involved in the expanding worldwide 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.

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. The event's leading sponsor is Dubai Healthcare City, one of the world's most innovative healthcare projects.