ArabWeeks

The 4th edition of the Saudi Health exhibition and Conference 2016 was successfully concluded after receiving heavy flows of decision-makers in health-related fields and healthcare professionals for three consecutive days.

The event that that took place under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Health, was organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. (REC) in cooperation with Informa.

More than 23,000 unique visitors from hospitals, medical centers and other relevant organizations, attended the exhibition, to discover the latest technologies and services in the health care field and communicate with the key players from both public and private sectors.

Moreover, professional deals and agreements were sealed on the sidelines of the Saudi Health exhibition, further confirming the success of the show in achieving its desired objectives, open new business channels and strengthen existing ones, and see the latest technologies and trends in the sector through the seminars and workshops, as reported by exhibitors who participated in the event, which was held at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.

The scientific and medical conference that were held in concurrence to the exhibition gathering more than 150 local and international experts, attracted more than 7,200 medical professionals who attended the conferences and received accredited hours by the Saudi Commission for health specialties.

The Saudi health Exhibition 2016 brought together the public and private sectors, and witnessed the participation of over 550 exhibitors from 42 countries and 14 international pavilions, and was sponsored by Saudi Aramco (Main Sponsor), Siemens and Dräger (platinum sponsors), and Massimo (golden sponsor) in addition to a number of strategic partners and supporting bodies.

According to the WHO estimate released on April 21, 2014, a total of 774 lives were claimed in the SARS outbreak in 2003. Far beyond the nations where it claimed the most victims, SARS traumatized the world with vast economic disruptions, deeply impacting international trade and travel that year and in the nervous months that followed.

Yet such threats are far from over: emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola and MERS have followed. These are the threats we understand a little about – yet what we really have to fear are the threats we cannot name. Even as global health experts gather, new and unmapped outbreaks can spread rapidly across the globe. More rapidly than ever, arguably, as air travel statistics show that more people are flying, with more of the world than ever within a day’s travel.

Zika virus emerged in South America late last year, and has since swept across every continent, challenging disease control efforts worldwide. The World Health Organization in 2014 estimated that vector-borne diseases account for 17% of the global burden of all infectious diseases, killing up to 750,000 people each year. Dengue, the fastest-growing vector-borne disease, is endemic in more than 100 countries – with four out of ten people worldwide potentially at risk. Last year, Taiwan confirmed a total of 43,419 indigenous cases, which was one of the most severe dengue outbreaks since 1987. Since Zika virus is transmitted by the same mosquito species that transmits dengue virus, Taiwan also faces increased risk of a Zika virus outbreaks.

Because we know infectious diseases do not respect boundaries, Taiwan has fulfilled its International Health Regulations responsibilities since 2009, when we were officially included in the implementation framework. We have established an IHR Contact Point with WHO to enable regional and global responses to public health threats. We assessed and improved our surveillance and response capacities to meet the Annex 1B IHR core requirements in a timely manner. Taiwan closely monitors international trends to optimally promote and enhance health security. In response to Ebola in West Africa, we provided 100,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment and donated US$1 million to international Ebola aid efforts in 2014. Since then, we organized four training workshops for Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asian health and laboratory workers to improve regional capacity to detect and respond to Ebola, MERS, dengue and Zika virus. Participants from 14 countries exchanged experiences and formed regional networks to address such public health threats.

Taiwan has expanded mosquito-related preparedness and response with four strategies: health system planning, prevention of Zika virus importation, border quarantine, and vector control measures. Yet better vector control, effective vaccines, and proper clinical management are still needed.

Our people also face pandemic and seasonal influenza threats. Previous outbreaks have demonstrated that seasonal influenza virus strains can pose major challenges to our health systems. Because the highest hospitalization rates are among senior citizens, we encourage annual seasonal influenza vaccination to achieve herd immunity.

As we continue to improve our influenza-related planning, we retain a global vision and work hard to maintain the widest possible international health networks. To bring together nations to promote global health security, prevent disease outbreaks, detect threats early and respond rapidly, the United States launched the Global Health Security Agenda with WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Its goals include consistent and widely supported standards like IHR, including the Performance of Veterinary Services Pathway and other health security frameworks. By adopting these frameworks, Taiwan promotes human medicine and veterinary collaborations and constructs a unified system for infectious disease control.

Nothing less than this multilateral and multi-sectoral approach is needed to fight infectious diseases. While we still hope for better alignment with the international community, we are reorganizing at home to pursue best policies and practices. We are establishing a national research institute for vector-borne diseases in southern Taiwan to integrate resources and assist local governments with prevention.

It is no news to this expert audience that a crisis anywhere easily and soon can become a problem everywhere. Global health demands that all populations have optimal capabilities to respond to such threats.

Taiwan will continue to pursue bilateral, multilateral and research cooperation. We can be relied on to assist our Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asian neighbors as they enhance their own response capacities. And for the reasons I have discussed, we will actively participate in international arenas.

Such participation ensures that global health security will never again have deadly blind spots due to blocked communication and a lack of transparency.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Minister of Health, Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fwzan Al Rabia, the Saudi Health Exhibition and Conference 2016 was inaugurated by theDeputy Minister of Health Mr. Hamad Al-Dhuwelia on Monday 16th of May 2016, with the presence of 12 ambassadors from participating countries and media representatives.

Mr. Hamad Al-Dhuwelia expressed his delight in this exhibition due to the huge participation of several countries from the region and the world,  and also extended his gratitude to the show supporters and added that the Ministry of Health is working in line with vision 2030.

Under the slogan of “Change starts at a point, The Transformation Point” Saudi Heath, the largest health care event in the Saudi Arabia organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company in collaboration with Informa, was launched at Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, and will continue for 3 consecutive days.

The exhibition aims to shed light on the health care sector in the Kingdom and to upgrade and develop the medical and health services it also aims to increase awareness amongst the local community through addressing all levels in the society.

With more than 550 exhibitors from 42 countries and 14 international pavilions, Saudi Health is considered the largest professional gathering for key players in the health field from public and private sectors, it is the ideal platform for communicating, exchanging experiences and identifying best practices in the health sector while showcasing the latest internationally accredited technology and services for more than 19,000 decision-makers, Medical and Health care professionals visiting the exhibition.

Alongside the exhibition runs 15 medical and scientific conferences addressing multiple important topics including nursing, medical engineering, patient safety, primary health care, obstetrics and gynecology, pharmaceutical care, security and safety in medical facilities, emergency medicine, biomedical engineering, infection control, medical physics, diagnostic radiology, medical rehabilitation multiple and important interlocutor include nursing, medical engineering, patient safety, primary health care, obstetrics and gynecology, pharmaceutical care, security and safety in medical facilities, emergency medicine, biomedical engineering, infection control, medical physics, diagnostic radiology, medical rehabilitation .

The Saudi Ministry of Health is participating in this event to discuss and review the latest innovative health solutions and to introduce the latest modern health services to the visitors, and to support the Public Private Partnership thus contributing to the development of the health sector as per the best international standards and promoting the sense of health security among the members of the community.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, Mr. Othman Al  Kassabi- Executive Manager Surgical Services Said: “SBAHC is the leading rehabilitation services provider in the region who strive to leverage global best practices in rehabilitation and related surgical interventions with excellent patient outcomes that revolves in accordance with JCI & CARF standards to serve the community according to founder’s vision as quoted “To be a leading organization in providing humanitarian services to the community”

Dr. Yacoub bin Yousef al Mazrou Secretary-General of the Council of Health Services stressed on the significance of participating in the Saudi Health Exhibition, which aims to build mutual relationships and cooperation between health experts to contribute in applying best practices that will lead to the development of health care policies and systems.

Dr. Al Mazrou added that through their participation, the Saudi Health Council aims to highlight the health care strategy programs in the Kingdom and what has been accomplished so far, and to present the Council’s most prominent decisions and electronic projects, such as the mutual health care database and the Saudi health terminology dictionary, the health coding and the National tumors Register statistics.

Mr. Saud AL Ashwi, General Manager, Salehiya “Since the formation of Salehiya in 1964, we have strived, right from the very beginning, to grow and become one of the market leaders in the healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia. We came a lone way and will continue our journey, invest and look for new opportunities with no boundaries to our business expansion, improving healthcare quality and services, providing professional excellence and great customer experience

Mr. Saleh Ayoub, CEO, al Kaws development technology said: “this exhibition is an annual opportunity to meet our partners in the health sector, and share opinions and observations to take the services to a new level.”

It is worth mentioning that the Riyadh Exhibitions Co. Ltd. is a Saudi company specialized in organizing exhibitions, conferences and other trade events. The Company caters to several activities for various economic sectors. Throughout its 35 years, REC has organized more than 440 unique and successful shows and conferences renowned for their innovation, professionalism and attention to details. REC boasts an international presence, supported by over 120 commercial & and industrial bodies from more than 50 countries. Regionally, REC dominates with its wide range of events programs, serving 20 economic and financial sectors in the Middle East. REC’s leading events are certified by UFI.