Healthcare | Sunday 18 October, 2015 1:55 pm |

The region’s largest gathering of medical-technology executives, regulators and healthcare professionals will return when the MENA MedTech Forum takes place for its second edition on the 4th and 5th of November 2015 in the UAE.

Following the success of the inaugural MENA MedTech Forum in 2014, the two-day conference, which will be held at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre in Dubai, is expected to bring together more than 200 participants active in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) healthcare industry. The forum provides a platform for participants to share insights and best practice on local critical issues, including regulatory, educational and market entry strategies needed to integrate medical technology into the complex healthcare systems of the region. 

Hosted by Mecomed, the Middle East Medical Devices and Diagnostics Trade Association, the 2nd MENA MedTech Forum will cover the theme ‘The Changing Face of Healthcare in the MENA Region’ through a mix of presentations, panel discussions and workshops and also address the need for improved diagnosis, monitoring and care of diseases and disabilities in MENA, where ageing populations and high prevalence of lifestyle diseases demand sustainable approaches in healthcare delivery.

Mecomed Chairman, Mr Rami Rajab said the main objective of the forum is to bring all sectors of the MedTech industry together for greater collaboration, which is critical to solve the region’s healthcare challenges.

“By collaborating with governments, policymakers, and key stakeholders, the MedTech industry is able to improve access to high-quality healthcare for patients, create innovative solutions and jointly shape the future of healthcare in the region,” he said.

“Mecomed is delighted to have such a strong panel of speakers to ignite debate and look forward to two days of collaborative discussion.”

The forum will be opened by Their Excellencies Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Policy and License Sector, Ministry of Health, UAE, and Professor Tawfik A M Khoja, Director General, Executive Board, Health Ministers’ Council for Cooperation Council States, KSA.

Insightful keynote presentations throughout the event cover topics such as driving change in the region, emerging markets, delivering value in modern healthcare, and the increasing role of IT. 

Drawn from across the region the speaker panel of healthcare experts includes Mr Rami Rajab, Chairman, Mecomed; Mr Nenad Pacek, President, Global Success Advisors and Co-founder, CEEMEA Business Group; Professor Brian Smith, a world-recognized authority on competitive strategy in the life science sector and Mr Jad Bitar, Partner and Managing Director, BCG Middle East.

“Last year’s forum was a tremendous success and we’re expecting this year to be even better,” Mr Rajab said.

“All aspects of healthcare provision are changing rapidly across the globe and none more so than here in the MENA region. By bringing together key influencers at MedTech we can work together to put the region on the world map as a progressive embracer of healthcare technology,” he said.

The forum features a number of lively panel sessions, which include industry leaders such as Mr Said Haddad, Managing Director, MEA, Johnson & Johnson; Mr Maher Abouzeid, President and CEO, Turkey and Middle East, GE Healthcare; Mr Arjen Radder, CEO, Middle East and Turkey, Philips; and Mr Serge Bernasconi, CEO, MedTech Europe.

The event will also witness the beginning of a strategic collaboration between Mecomed Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a member of TECOM Group dedicated to Life Sciences, and represented by Mr. Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Executive Director.