Arab Health Congress 2010

BY PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 26 Jan 2010

The healthcare world descended on Dubai, as the world’s second largest healthcare summit kicked off on Monday.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inaugurated 35th edition of Arab Health Congress at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dubbed as the world’s largest multi-track medical conference and the region’s largest gathering of healthcare professionals, the Arab health Congress and Exhibition 2010 will run untilJan.28.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, have visited the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) pavilion during their tour of the Arab Health Congress. He also visited GE Healthcare pavilion at the venue.

Simon Page, Group Director of Life Sciences Division, IIR Middle East that organises the Arab Health Congress, said the programme provides unrivalled opportunity for professionals to bring their knowledge and understanding up to date and a testament to the continuing development of the region’s healthcare sector.

“With the Middle East healthcare sector continuing to enjoy robust growth despite the global downturn, more companies than ever are exhibiting at Arab Health this year in their search for new business,” he added.

“Four new halls have been added this year at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, providing a further 22,000 square metres of space to accommodate over 55,000 healthcare professionals from across the world,” he pointed out.

Page said that Germany has this year mounted its biggest ever representation at a health event outside of Germany with more than 400 companies participating.

“For the first time, the second biggest representation comes from China with around 300 exhibiting companies. Big representations also come from the UAE, the UK and the US, each with around 200 exhibiting companies, and countries like India, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan with upwards of 100 companies each,” he explained.

He said the world’s biggest multi-track medical congress has also provides platform to healthcare professionals to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits. Different conferences, supported by the Cleveland Clinic Centre for Continuing Education, are being addressed by around 500 speakers and are hosting more than 5,500 attendees.

According to him, all healthcare service providers including hospitals, clinics and pharmacies must stay ahead by keeping their medical accreditation up to date, with the region’s healthcare sector continuing to expand.

“The topics discussed in conference include anaesthesia, medical imaging and diagnosis, cardiovascular diseases, orthopaedics, surgery, laboratory medicine, urology, paediatrics, gastroenterology and hepatology, quality management in healthcare, endovascular, molecular imaging and nuclear medicine,” Page explained.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has unveiled a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System on the sidelines of the Arab Health Congress 2010.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the DHA provided an overview of the electronic patient data system that has been planned as a complete overhaul in the manner in which patient data is collected and stored electronically.

“Once it's implemented, the electronic system will be able to compile complete patient information such as history, allergies, prescriptions and diagnostic test results,” he added.

Speaking on the significance of the electronic system, Murooshid said, "The system will provide one clinical data depository where all patient information is stored.""The eventual aim is use this system across the emirate of Dubai, in both private and public hospitals. However, initially we will use it for the DHA hospitals and health clinics," he added.          According to him, the project presently in the analytical stage will be implemented in 2012.

"The DHA has presently an electronic system. But the new EMR system will be a fully-fledged e-system to record all patient information and will provide great benefits to the patients who visit the DHA hospitals and health centres," noted Murooshid.

Mubaraka Ibrahim, Information Director at the DHA, said, "The EMR system will provide easy accessibility to the key DHA services such as general, licensing, statistical and other health services through online. The platform will be accessed to the customers upon registration with the DHA website, provided with individual ID and password system."

"Issuance and renewal of health card, services related to lab tests, radiology results will also be provided through the system," she added.

Al Murooshid also provided an overview of the progress made in the Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital project of the DHA.

“The Al Jalila Specialty Pediatric Hospital will be opened by the end of the next year. Its work began in June 2009 and the Al Maktoom Emergency and Trauma Centre in Jebel Ali. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011,” he pointed out.

Al Murooshid added that the specialty hospital project named as Al Jalila Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Hospital was ordered to be built by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as a gift to the children of the UAE.

“The 200 bed hospital is located in the Al Wasl hospital premises. It will be spreading over 7, 21,181 square feet, of which 5,38,195 sq ft has been allocated for external terraces and gardens. The project won the prestigious “Future Health Project” award at the World Architecture Festival,” he pointed out.

“The paediatric hospital is being implemented on a priority basis to serve the children of Dubai and the region providing them with the latest medical care available,” said Al Muroosshid.

“It will cater to children from birth up to 14 years of age and in some cases up to 16 years of age. The four-floor hospital will be equipped with neonatal ICU, a dialysis unit, a heart centre, CICU, PICU, a cath lab, operating rooms, an oncology centre, a nephrology unit, four medical surgery units, royal suites, accommodation facilities for parents and other such facilities,” he explained.

“All paediatric emergency cases and accident cases will be treated at the hospital. The hospital will have a helipad and its unique feature is that it has been designed keeping in mind parameters of a ‘Green Building’ to promote the concept of saving energy,” Al Muroosshid added.