Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland holds 8th overseas meeting In Dubai

The two-day joint scientific conference is being held in the Middle East for the third time under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and the UAE Ministry of Health.

The College meets every alternate year in a new location to hold the proceedings of the symposium, which has become an integral part of the College tradition. The inaugural outing to Dubai is seen as an excellent opportunity to establish new contacts and strengthen their continued commitment towards quality medical education within the region.

Michael Butler, President -RCSI said, " the meeting is a wonderful opportunity for a short, but intense period of communication with like minded people about problems common to all medical and healthcare communities. We have learnt from our past experiences, that interaction of such nature is the wellspring for promotion of new ideas in medical practice, education and training. We are very appreciative of the most friendly and warm welcome that we have received from our friends and colleagues in Dubai".

For many years RCSI has provided medical expertise to several foreign governments on a contractual basis, conducting training courses and examinations for Ministries of Health throughout the Middle East, most notably in Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. RCSI has more than 500 active members in the region who hail from as far apart as Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, KSA, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE.

" More than 500 doctors practicing in the UAE have qualified from RCSI over the past 25 years. We receive many students from the Middle East every year and to further commemorate our association with the region, we embarked on our new and exciting initiative taking shape right now, the Medical University of Bahrain (MUB). This will be an international centre serving primarily students from the GCC countries but also open to applicants outside the region. The university will commence delivery of its new curricula in October 2004" elaborated Professor Kevin O'Malley, Chief Executive, RCSI

Dr. Ahmad Al Hashemi, Under Secretary, MoH and Dubai Medical District Director explained, " The association of RCSI with the Middle East goes back many years, and we have so far been the beneficiaries of their hard work and efforts. The fact that so many health practitioners in the region have received some form of formal training with RCSI speaks volumes of their contribution to the ever-developing medical society. We, at the MoH are looking at a life long relationship with RCSI and hopefully the presence of RSCI in the Middle East will act as the catalyst to further promote this".

The two-day scientific conference happening at the Grand Hyatt on the 15 and 16 of March is going to encompass various medical topics presented by eminent healthcare professionals, both local and European.