Arab Health - Tuesday Impressions by Dan

The second day at Arab Health was busy with exploring the halls to discover who is here and who is not. It is encouraging to see Siemens with their usual mega-booth again competing with GE and Philips to see just how many of their own people they can get into their space. The good news is there seem to be plenty of potential customers standing around watching the demonstrations.

If you have been to Medica Dusseldorf, you would be comfortable at Arab Health Dubai.  Over a dozen halls spread out to allow all types of health care apparatus on display. This venue also has segregated country sections showcasing the usual OEMs from China, Turkey, France, Germany, Italy, and a small group from the USA. Iran, Brazil, and the Ukraine round out the emerging markets with reps looking for sources of equipment and supplies to meet a growing market in their own cultures.

It is interesting to see Siemens with their P10 at the show but without any special attention.  Old news for them. GE has their new VScan on display and available for demo.  New news for GE with the appropriate TV crews buzzing around. I'll be looking at more details tomorrow.

The weather here is pleasant with a high of about 80F.  Sky is hazy.  Here is a photo of the Burj in the sunset.

Day Two Press Release

Bionic Limb Centre for Region ‘Under Study’ 

A clinical centre in the Middle East to fit patients with the world’s most advanced bionic fingers and hands is under study, it was revealed today at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress taking place in Dubai.

The technology behind the “robotic” hands and fingers that look and act like the real thing, was demonstrated to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, during his visit to Arab Health earlier this week.

“I was able to show Sheikh Mohammed that the hands function not just on a cosmetic basis but you can, for example, grip a cup of hot tea,” said UK Business Ambassador Lord Darzi, an eminent surgeon in the field of robotics, a former government health minister and the keynote speaker on robotic surgery at Arab Health.

 

Touch Bionics, the UK developer of advanced upper-limb technologies, is exhibiting bionic hands, fingers and artificial “living skin” at Arab Health, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 28 January 2010 and featuring more than 2700 exhibiting companies from 70 countries.

Guarav Mishra, International Business Development Director for Touch Bionics, said the company plans to expand in the Middle East and has had expressions of interest from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait. “We are also exploring the possibility of our own clinical centre in the region to train people in the technology as well as clinically treat them,” he added.

Lord Darzi also praised Qatar for the leading regional role it is playing in the fast-developing field of robotic surgery. Lord Darzi is a world leading surgeon at Imperial College London specialising in the field of minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery, pioneering many new techniques and technologies.  

Imperial College London is partnering with Qatar Science and Technology Park in setting up the Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre. “We are delighted to be working with Qatar on what is going to be a regional centre for robotic surgery and we hope there will be areas of joint innovation,” Lord Darzi said.

He described robotic surgery as still being in its infancy. “It is like when Henry Ford introduced his first car and you could get any colour as long as it was black. Innovation in the next five years in areas of robotic surgery…will have a huge impact on quality of life after surgery,” he added.

Day One Opening Press Release

Healthcare world descends on Dubai

The Middle East’s largest gathering of healthcare professionals was inaugurated today (Monday 25 January 2010) by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

The Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, which runs until 28 January 2010, is the biggest event to date at the Dubai World Trade Centre taking up all available space and featuring more than 2700 exhibiting companies from 70 countries.

The healthcare world has descended on the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress which has again confirmed it is by one if the world’s most important healthcare exhibitions,” said Simon Page, Group Director of the Life Sciences Division of organisers IIR Middle East, who accompanied Sheikh Mohammed on a tour of the show.

Arab Health provides an 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, according to the organisers.

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 United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States, each with around 200 exhibiting companies; and India, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan with upwards of 100 companies each.

Arab Health is the flagship of the Life Science Division of IIR Middle East, the largest trade and consumer event business in the region, and features the world’s biggest multi-track medical congress at which healthcare professionals can earn continuing medical education credits. The 2010 conferences, sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic Centre for Continuing Education, are being addressed by around 500 speakers and are hosting more than 5,500 attendees.

The winners of the Arab Health Achievement and Innovation Awards, recognising individuals, hospitals, departments, teams or organisations contributing to the growth and development of the industry, will be announced during a gala dinner tonight (26 January 2010) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) is this year’s Arab Health Awards diamond sponsor. Gold sponsors are Roche, Miele, Cerner, dothealth, Microsoft Health Vault and Microsoft Amalga.

The Arab Health Exhibition and Congress is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health, Dubai Health Authority and the Abu Dhabi Health Authority. For further information on all aspects of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, please visit: www.arabhealthonline.com

Arab Health Exhibition Preview

Welcome to Arab Health Exhibition, the up and coming main event for the Healthcare Industry. Imagee Consulting has Dan Tidwell on site this week to report about what is becoming the preeminent conference for the Middle East and perhaps the rest of the world.

The Arab Health Exhibition & Congress is, by far, the largest healthcare exhibition in the Middle East, and the second largest in the world. Arab Health is viewed as a must-attend global event in the healthcare calendar. Established 35 years ago, it provides a platform for the world's leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to meet the medical and scientific community in the Middle East and beyond.

At the 2009 event 2205 exhibitors from 59 countries showcased their products and services. Over 56,000 professionals from 145 countries - comprising 70% decision makers and 85% visitors directly involved in purchasing products and services attended Arab Health last year. With the addition of extra halls this number of exhibitors and visitors will grow in 2010.

Arab Health also features the world's largest and most comprehensive conferences program - Arab Health Congress. The 2010 Congress will feature 17 internationally accredited conferences, addressed by 400 eminent and internationally acclaimed speakers and hosting more than 5,500 delegates and conference attendees.

With its line up of innovative educational activities, such as free accredited education and strategic tie ups with regional institutes, Arab Health leads the way in delivering the best interactive opportunities to the show participants and an ideal B2B environment to the audiences.

The Arab Health exhibition delivers to exhibitors the right balance between dealers and distributors, senior decision makers and end users. Arab Health is the business destination of choice for the Middle East Market estimated to be close to $80 billion per year. Due to the huge increase in the expatriate population it is also one of the fastest growing regions with an estimated annual growth of 16%.

Check back in daily to see what the conference offers...