International and regional cancer specialists gather in Dubai

Held under the patronage of the Dubai Government's Department of Health and Medical Services, the First Novartis Middle East and Africa Oncology Summit, taking place 8 and 9 January 2005 at Dubai's Grand Hyatt Hotel, will present more than 500 physicians with an opportunity to review the latest standard of care, as well as discuss its application to the specific needs of the region.

Kahdi Saeed Murooshed, Director General of Dubai Government's Department of Health and Medical Services, will give the keynote address at the Summit.

Dubai was chosen as the host for this event, one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings of oncology experts anywhere in the world, because of its position as a center of medical excellence in the wider Middle East region. Attendees have been encouraged to use the academic forum as a platform for further medical advancement in the field.

Several hundred physicians are expected to attend the two-day event, with regional representatives confirmed from the countries of Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.

International speakers have also been confirmed from Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

"We at Novartis Oncology are committed to innovation in the field of oncology and making our new therapies broadly available in a truly global fashion," said Rainer Boehm, Vice President, Novartis Oncology, who will arrive in Dubai to speak at the event.

"The Middle East remains a region in which we are quite active, and I look forward to meeting again with many of the region's leading oncologists and hematologists, while welcoming our international line-up of globally-recognized medical speakers," concluded Boehm.