The Second Middle East Conference on Healthcare Informatics under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education and Chancellor of the UAE University, will be held at Knowledge Village, Dubai, on April 9 and 10.
The event is being held for the second time after 2002, this time in collaboration with the UAEU and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms), and with the support of Knowledge Village, Dubai Healthcare City, Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University, British Council, Dubai, Harvard Medical School, Dubai Centre and British University of Dubai.
"The role of informatics in healthcare, its implementation in clinical practice and the development of training and research across the Middle East region" is the theme of this year's conference which will be a confluence of top medical experts from across the Middle East and from around the world who will work together to explore the role of informatics in healthcare and develop strategies for the implementation of best practices. In addition to the speakers, a number of eminent participants will present selected quality papers on several topics of interest to the conference.
The first day of the event will focus on the implementation and use of state-of-the-art technology in healthcare delivery. The second day will explore the socio-technical aspects of healthcare informatics.
Briefing the Press, Dr Khaled Ghandour, the UAE representative to the Faculty of Medical Informatics Royal College of Surgeons, said in an official release: "This year's conference will have an expanded programme, and it will cover a whole range of issues and evaluate e-health systems and services, in addition to exploring opportunities for collaborative research. We are delighted that many experts and speakers have already confirmed their participation at this year's conference. We expect many delegates representing different sectors from both government and private sector establishments to attend this event and benefit from the programme of interactive and inspirational speeches and presentations. We are attaching significant importance to this event because the whole exercise is aimed at using the benefits of synergy that is generated at such gatherings."
As part of efforts to boost regional medical co-operation, a draft proposal on the formation of a Middle East Association of Health Informatics will be also tabled at the conference, added Dr Ghandour.
Khaled Al Jallaf, Head of Quality Department, and Acting Director Licensing, Dohms, pointed out that the conference will be instrumental in providing a platform for medical and computer professionals to share expertise and exchange experiences.
Commenting on the UAE University's dual role (medicine & informatic) in the conference, Dr George Carruthers, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, said: "This event will build on the success of the first conference held in 2002. Healthcare Informatics has now become extremely crucial to the development of a world-class integrated healthcare system. It is extremely important that we update ourselves on established trends and best practices. UAE University is committed to supporting projects that further enhance the role of higher education, and the image of UAE as a centre of innovation and excellence. We believe that initiatives like this will tremendously benefit the student and medical fraternity."
Delegates to the conference will be from a wide spectrum of professionals from central and local governmental organisations to representatives of well-established private sector organisations and companies that are active in the healthcare and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors, associations working in healthcare delivery and education, academicians and technocrats involved in health sciences education and research, selected tutors and students in health sciences and ICT programmes.