Huge investment in UAE medical sector expected

Dubai: Senior government officials expect huge investments in the medical sector during the Arab Health Congress which started here on Monday, saying it will open great opportunities in the region.

Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Acting Minister of Health, said the UAE has succeeded in attracting a large number of professionals and exhibitors for the three-day congress. "This is the second-largest such event in the world," he said. 

Last year the Congress generated Dh3.6 billion in business, said the head of the Dubai Health Authority. Director General Qadi Saeed Al Murooshid said the private sector in the UAE will be a "close partner" in the development of the medical sector.

According to organisers, the exhibition and congress will generate Dh90 million for the Dubai economy just in hotel bookings, exhibition and tourism services. Dave Panther, director life services, Informa Exhibitions, said four more countries have joined in to showcase the latest in medical services and exquipment. 

"Healthcare and the education are key sectors to the government and have shown to be resilient to the market forces," he said. According to government statistics the healthcare sector is expected to grow 16 percent annually to Dh 43 billion in three years time.

"The [medical services] needs from all emirates has been growing," he said. "The need for [hospital] beds is increasing as the population increases," Panther said.

This year the entire area of the Dubai World Trade Centre has been taken up by the congress and exhibition. More than 6500 delegates have also come to Dubai for the coninuing medical education programmes of the Congress.

One new aspect to the Congress this year is the introduction of mhealth. Experts said that there is a huge burden on healthcare systems due to rising costs, scarce resources and lack of capacity. Mobile health technology will enable medical professionals to manage many patients remotely, they note.

According to international research 10 percent of smartphone users lready have a health app on their device. Diabetics specially have to closely monitor their blood sugar levels and need to consult with their doctors. 

Despite the massive spend on healthcare, a large popualtion of the UAE suffers from lifestyle diseases as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

Acting Health Minister Al Owais said he was "grateful" to the medical researchers who are trying to make everyone's lives better. Many new researches will be presented at this Congress. 

Al Owais said there was still a need for education at all levels, including schools, to make everyone realise the need to take better care of their health.