Arab Health 2020

Karim

Arab Health, the largest exhibition for healthcare and trade professionals in the MENA region, was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre between 27-30 January. Healthcare and trade professionals from over 159 countries came together in Dubai for the Health Exhibition and Conferences. The event was the region’s largest gathering of healthcare companies and industry leaders and a grand showcase of medical technology, products and services. More than 55,000 healthcare and trade professionals and 4,250 exhibiting companies from over 64 countries participated this year. Trans Skills along with it’s healthcare practice lead were delighted to be in attendance this year to meet many of our existing leading healthcare client groups as well as  meeting other new and innovative Groups to continue to grow and develop our channel partners in the healthcare arena.

This year’s exhibition revolved around the theme ‘Connectivity for better healthcare delivery’. To achieve this goal, ‘sectorisation’ formed a major focus for the event with the show floor split into eight distinct sectors, including medical equipment and devices; disposable and consumer goods; healthcare infrastructure and assets; imaging and diagnostics; and preventive and post-diagnostics treatments, among others.

Innovation was once again a hot topic of discussion. The Innovation Hub returned at Arab Health. One zone was dedicated to start-ups, SMEs and innovators, providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate their new products and innovation shaping the future of healthcare. We also saw the return of the Innov8 Talks segment, where eight SMEs and entrepreneurs for each day of the show had eight minutes to present their latest groundbreaking healthcare ideas. Two new forums were introduced this year as well, with a focus on healthcare investment and infrastructure.

In focus were smart technologies and intelligent applications that help drive clinical efficiency, enhance patient comfort, and improve workflow in hospitals and clinics across the region. The customisation, reliability, and innovative design of Humanscale Healthcare solutions give caregivers and industry professionals the confidence to focus medical delivery services where it matters most – patient care and safety.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) in partnership with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence unveiled its new smart platform for translating sign language for “deaf and dumb” patients into a language understood by the medical team. The ministry also launched the world’s first technique to monitor and measure real-time cerebral blood flow in preterm infants and induce the automatic resuscitation of the infant’s brain using AI. The technology was unveiled in cooperation with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Washington. The ministry’s move comes in line with its efforts to transform healthcare.

The steadily expanding healthcare and pharmaceutical segment of Jebel Ali Free Zone, Jafza, the key trade facilitator of DP World, UAE Region, was also under the spotlight at Arab Health 2020. Jafza accounts for nearly 38 percent of Dubai’s total healthcare and pharmaceutical trade by volume and over 30 percent by value. Its client base includes global brands such as Sanofi, Roche, Abbott, and GlaxoSmithKline. The free zone hosts manufacturers such as LIFEPharma, Gulf Inject, and Quest Vitamins and is the regional distribution base for multinational companies, either through their custom-built temperature-controlled facilities or through third-party cool, cold and ambient warehouses.

Built from the ground up, Jafza is the only free zone with the ability to support indigenous manufacturing in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. It is home to over 162 companies from more than 40 countries.

Pharmaceuticals is one of the six priority industry sectors identified for focused development by the Dubai Government under the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030. The strategy aims to increase the total output and value-addition of the manufacturing sector.

When we talk about the growth of the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, our thoughts automatically align with the key strategic targets of the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030. As one of the main contributors to Dubai’s health sector, Jafza has provided support to its customers in every way across the supply chain. Participation in Arab Health 2020 showcased the efficiency of the ecosystem that has been put in place in Jebel Ali and contribute as many building blocks to this thriving business as possible to attract investors from the region and beyond.