28 Jan 2016

HRH Princess Haya Highlights Developments in Genomics and Personalised Medicine to Improve Health Outcomes across the Middle East

Dubai, UAE, 28 January 2016 – Marking the final day of Arab Health Exhibition & Congress 2016, the Leaders in Healthcare Conference, one of the most prestigious, high-level healthcare conferences in the Middle East, opened today focusing on the latest developments in personalised medicine and genomics. Held under the patronage of Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Leaders in Healthcare Conference highlighted key developments in the areas of DNA, molecular and human genomics, as well as challenges and opportunities in personalised health to improve patient treatment outcomes in the Arab region.

Attendees at the conference included HE Abdul Rahman Mohamed Al Oweis, UAE Minister of Health, Dr Amer Sharif, CEO, Dubai Healthcare City Authority - Education, Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, and other VIP dignitaries.

As part of her keynote speech, HRH Princess Haya said, “Personalised medicine will move us closer to more precise and effective healthcare that is customised for the individual patient. Our greater understanding of our genetic makeup and how this drives our health predisposes us to certain illnesses, and governs our response to treatments and drugs, will enable our healthcare professionals to provide better prevention, more accurate diagnosis and more effective and safer drugs at a price that is more affordable.”

“By the time medical students have graduated from the Mohammed Bin Rashid University, we should have ready for them the tools, and offer them the best chance to make advancements in genomics- for personalised medicine-further. We need to have the policies, infrastructure, systems, funding and research revved up for a fresh generation of clinicians to take the lead.”

In addition to speaking at Leaders in Healthcare, HRH Princess Haya also toured the Arab Health 2016 exhibition stands, including those belonging to the UAE Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Healthcare City, GE, Siemens and Philips, amongst others. Accompanying HRH Princess Haya on the tour was HE Abdul Rahman Mohamed Al Oweis and other dignitaries.

“The Leaders in Healthcare Conference is a distinguished platform which gathers thought leaders and industry experts to share and discuss new trends, and exciting opportunities and advancements in the field of healthcare. Siemens Healthcare is proud to be a partner of this prestigious conference,” said Dr. Bernd Ohnesorge, President of the Region Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Siemens Healthcare. He added: “With today’s changing environment and challenges, Siemens Healthcare aims to enable healthcare providers worldwide in delivering improved clinical outcomes with increased operational efficiency at lower costs.”

The 2016 Leaders in Healthcare Conference also featured contributions by Lord Stephen Carter, Group CEO Informa, organiser of Arab Health; Dr Keith Stewart, Director of the Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic; Pamela D Paulk, President, John Hopkins Medicine International; Homer Pien, Chief Technology Officer, Imaging Systems, Philips Healthcare; and other healthcare leaders from across the globe.

Healthcare stakeholders in the Middle East can now leverage the increased power of genomics and growth of personalised medicine to be better equipped to prevent, diagnose, treat and predict outcomes based on complex information, including genetic data. The Leaders in Healthcare Conference addressed developments in personalised health, and applications for some of the Middle East’s most pressing health issues such as diabetes inherited diseases and cancer.

The Leaders in Healthcare Conference marked the final day of the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress 2016. This year, the world’s second largest healthcare congress and exhibition, witnessed more than 4,000 exhibitors and 130,000 healthcare professionals representing 163 countries.

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About Arab Health Exhibition & Congress 2016:

Arab Health Exhibition & Congress is the largest healthcare event in the Middle East. Established 41 years ago, Arab Health provides a platform for the world’s leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to meet the medical and scientific community in the Middle East and subcontinent. The Arab Health Congress is the world’s premier multi-track CME-accredited medical congress with 20 conferences. Arab Health, organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, takes place from 25-28th January 2016 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Website: www.arabhealthonline.com

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  • LinkedIn: Arab Health Forum - Healthcare in the Middle East

 About Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions:

Website: www.informalifesciences.com

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Diana Estupinan
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Diana.Estupinan@hkstrategies.com
+971 56 175 0590