Dubai: Arab Health, the largest health care exhibition and medical congress in the Middle East — with more than 80,000 medical and health care professionals — will open on Monday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The event has a multi-fold theme, encompassing advances in medicine like robotic surgery, product innovation and conferences on a host of specialities from multidisciplinary cancer therapy to diabetes and complementary medicine, a new addition.
Arab Health 2013 will reinforce the emirate’s plan to establish itself as a hub for medical tourism with several healthcare providers announcing expansion projects, Gulf News has learnt.
The UAE’s medical tourism market, estimated at $1.6 billion (Dh5.87 billion) in 2012, is set to grow by 7 per cent in 2013, according to market researcher Euromonitor.
The Saudi German Hospitals Group (SGH) - Dubai will reveal details about its state-of-the-art medical tower that will accommodate 215 leased clinics, six specialised medical centres and an educational centre.
The Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) will update its plan to open specialised centres for oncology, genetic disorders and diabetes as well as close the gap in services by adding facilities like rehab, paediatrics and integrated medicine.
Last November, the DHCC started a new 200-bed hospital project by Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group (HMG), which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2013.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) with its stakeholders aims for a unified medical tourism strategy. In an earlier interview with Gulf News, DHA director general Eisa Al Haj Al Maidour said, “The growth of medical tourism will positively impact the economy and be a driver for trade and investment in healthcare, tourism and hospitality services.”
At Arab Health, the Authority will review current healthcare needs and talk of its future healthcare projects.
The Arabian Healthcare Group (AHG), a premium global healthcare management and consulting firm has plans to set up a chain of speciality centres across UAE by the end of 2013. In the first phase group would be launching two Diabetes Centres, a specialised eye Centre and a comprehensive rehabilitation centre.
Several new products and technologies will also be unveiled. GE Healthcare will launch a new product in MRI technology to enhance patient comfort and accuracy of diagnosis whereas Masimo Corporation will demonstrate advanced patient monitoring devices and Siemens will introduce the world’s first wireless ultrasound system and a revolutionary X-ray tube with new detector technology.
In a media statement, Simon Page, managing director of Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, organiser of Arab Health, said the robust market growth is providing an environment conducive to medical innovation. “This year the Arab Health Congress will be further enhanced with the addition of the Diabetes, the Complimentary Medicine and the Big Data Conferences,” he said.
The event, now in its 38th year, will give visitors an opportunity to interact with experts from the healthcare industry, and learn about the cutting edge technology in healthcare as well as preview the latest products.
