Second Practi-Med Dubai takes place in December

"Practi-Med Dubai 2004 is the second annual major medical conference developed by DHCC and HMI to develop practical solutions to address common health care challenges affecting the Middle East. The conference brings together leading clinicians from Harvard-affiliated institutions, as well as health care providers in the Middle East, to discuss the latest research on a range of topics, including cancer." said Omar Moawiyah Al Shunnar, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of DHCC.

Dr. Lowell E. Schnipper, a leading authority in the field of oncology, will lead a series of discussions on cancer, focusing on the biology of cancer, cancer prevention, and new approaches to treatment.

"We are currently witnessing a knowledge explosion in the field of oncology, with new information about the biology of cancer emerging in laboratories around the world," said Schnipper, a leading figure in cancer research at Harvard Medical School. "One of my objectives in these lectures is to make clear the basis for optimism about major progress against cancer within the next five to ten years," Schnipper added.

The UAE Ministry of Health estimates that around 500 people die annually from cancer in the UAE. For women in the UAE, breast cancer, which is on the rise globally, is the most common cancer, accounting for about 37.5 percent of cancer suffering. Recently, health experts in the UAE have expressed concern over the ability of health care providers in the UAE to keep up with the increase in number of cancer cases that is expected as the population of regional hubs like Dubai increases.

In addition to advances in oncology, Practi-Med Dubai 2004 will cover health care challenges common to the Middle Eastern countries, including the rise of cardiovascular and infectious disease, as well as diabetes, obesity, and the care of children and expectant mothers. The program will focus not only on these and other health issues, but also on ways to build sustainable diagnosis, prevention, and treatment systems that can have lasting benefits for health care delivery in the Middle East. This year's program includes a number of topics that have not previously been covered at Practi-Med, including emergency medicine, dermatology, headache diagnosis and treatment, and counseling patients with severe illnesses.

Practi-Med Dubai 2004 has been accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland for18 credit hours (6 hours per day). The General Health Authority in Abu Dhabi has granted up to 16 credit hours, and the Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development Committee of the United Arab Emirates University Faculty of Medicine and Health Science has granted up to 18.5 credit hours. Those participating in the conference will be awarded a 'Certificate of Attendance' by Harvard Medical International and DHCC.