Latest medical innovations to be highlighted at major regional overseas meeting in Bahrain

Over 300 delegates are taking part in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain's (RCSI-MUB) 9th Overseas Meeting which will be held at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th of March 2006.

The event is being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain and an Honorary Fellow of RCSI and will feature over 80 high quality speakers form the Middle East and Ireland covering fields such as trauma, nursing and midwifery, radiology, dentistry, surgery and others.

"Medical professionals are invited to attend the event, which will provide an excellent forum for the exchange of ideas," said Michael Horgan, Chief Executive - Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

"Regional heavyweights in the medical field will be in attendance, providing an opportunity for professionals to learn about the latest advancements in various fields and debate key issues" he continued.

"RCSI has strong ties with the region. More than 20 per cent of our students are from the Gulf region. We have been privileged to collaborate in the provision of medical education and training, especially following the establishment of the Medical University of Bahrain (MUB), a constituent of the Royal College of Surgeons, in 2004."

Professor Kevin O'Malley, President - Medical University of Bahrain, said that the MUB is playing an important role in the organisation of the meeting and is also providing key speakers.

"As a constituent university of RCSI, MUB provides internationally recognised healthcare education and training standards to students in the region. Its graduates in medicine are awarded an MD degree in accordance with standards set down by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)," he said.
"Our students include Bahrainis, Kuwaitis, Saudis, Yemenis and UAE citizens as well as Americans and Europeans, making us a truly international institution in the region."

The university, currently in Bahrain's Seef District, will be moved to a new location next year adjacent to the King Hamad General Hospital, currently under construction on the island of Muharraq, where the majority of clinical teaching will take place. These will be the key components of a new Health Oasis, an International Centre of Excellence, on which RCSI is now working with the Government of Bahrain.

In addition to a five-star hotel, leisure and shopping facilities, the Health Oasis will include a cluster of private and public healthcare facilities such as cardiology and cardiac surgery treatments, cancer treatments, mental health treatments, dependency treatments, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, infertility treatments, imaging systems and others. When completed, the Health Oasis will be the destination of choice for those seeking the highest standard in healthcare services.

An important component of the Overseas Meeting will be a Chapter of Fellows Meeting. Dr. Faisal Al Mousawi, Chairman of Bahrain's consultative Shura Council and long-standing friend of the College, is Chairman of the Chapter, which today comprises over 400 members from the region.

"The purpose of the Chapter is to promote and foster relationships between the College, its Fellows and Members in the Gulf Region," said Dr Al Mousawi.

"This event will provide a great opportunity for Fellows to be informed of key developments at MUB and RCSI.