Health care projects set for more growth

Dubai: Almost one-fifth of the total expenditure on health care-related projects worth $14 billion (Dh51.49 billion) in this region will come from the UAE.

The country, which is expected to witness 16 per cent annual growth in its health care sector, will further benefit if it focuses on building public-private partnerships (PPs), experts have said.

The growth of the health care sector and many other issues will be discussed during the 37th Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, opening today, which will involve participation from over 70,000 industry members.

Daniel Whitehead, a managing consultant with TCO, which will present a white paper on building the right enabling environment for PPs, said: "The report outlines several policy recommendations for enabling an environment that would foster partnerships with the private sector in the UAE, including developing a health care reform agenda that includes the private sector, establishing clear governance roles that will drive partnerships and defining a quality baseline as a way to measure performance and incentivise the private partners.

Arab Health will play host to more than 3,000 exhibiting companies from 70 countries.

"The health care sector in the Middle East has continued to show a dynamic growth," says Simon Page, Managing Director — Life Sciences, Informa Exhibitions, organisers of Arab Health. "By acknowledging the current trends in the market and identifying the niche opportunities available for our exhibitors, Arab Health continues to be the preferred platform for our customers to market their products, garner intelligence, debate industry issues and network with each other."