Singapore unveils expanded presence at Arab Health 2005

One of the best-represented country groups at this year's event is Singapore, whose national pavilion fields its largest-ever presence in 2005, including a large delegation of the Republic's prominent medical consultants and specialists who will speak at the Congress during the event.

Singapore has made great strides in recent years in establishing itself at Southeast Asia's medical hub, and its participation in Arab Health 2005 is part of an integrated initiative which aims to make its world-class healthcare services easily accessible to people living in the Middle East.

By 2012, Singapore expects more than one million overseas patients, many of whom will come from the region.

Among the highlights of the event will be a presentation by one of Singapore's leading plastic surgeons, Professor Walter Tan from Raffles Hospital, who will speak on Breast Reconstruction during the Arab Health Plastic Surgery and Laser Congress.

Joining Professor Tan is Pacific Healthcare's Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Yung Shing Wai, who will present the latest findings in Arthroscopic Surgery of the Shoulder. Other topics on the agenda include a paper from Dr Michael Wong, SingHealth's Director, Urology Centre, Singapore General Hospital, on the Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery in Urology.

From Parkway Group Healthcare, Dr Kum Cheng Kiong, Consultant Laparoscopic and Colorectal Surgeon, will focus on Surgery in the Future at the Advances in Laparoscopic Surgery, while Dr Alvin Hong, Consultant Neurosurgeon, will address participants at the Oncology Conference on Radiosurgery for Head and Neck tumours.

"Last year we were thrilled by the reception we received as first time exhibitors and had no hesitation in expanding our representation at Arab Health 2005," said Mr Alan Tan, Area Director, Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board.

"The professional caliber of attendees from the region is exceptional and everyone here is eager to meet up again with the medical community in the Middle East so we can exchange latest ideas, innovations and trends."

Singapore receives more than 200,000 foreign patients a year with increasing numbers from the Middle East. Ranked by the World Health Organization as having the best health system in Asia - ahead of Japan and the US - the Southeast Asian nation offers superb healthcare facilities and treatments with a multitude of specialised, expert treatments in key areas such as cardiology (heart), ophthalmology (eye) and oncology (cancer).

Along with the medical treatments and facilities, Singapore's healthcare providers offer dedicated international patient service centers which take care of every aspect of a patient's trip including travel, admission, appointments, transport and interpreters.

"Being a multi-cultural society, we are able to offer patients from the Middle East a wide variety of specialist options, including halal menus, same gender-doctors on request, direction signs for prayers and prayer mats," added Tan.

The Singapore Medicine pavilion at Arab Health 2005 will showcase four main healthcare providers from the island - National Healthcare Group, SingHealth Group including KK Women's and Children's Hospital, National Cancer Centre, National Heart Centre and Singapore National Eye Centre, Parkway Group Healthcare and Raffles Hospital - each with its own unique offerings and specialty services.