A new series of health awards to honour outstanding contributions to the Middle East's health industry has been set up by IIR, organisers of Arab Health.

Named 'Middle East Arab Health' awards, this aims to recognise individuals, teams, organisations, partnerships and medical suppliers, for their work in helping improve healthcare services, from countries across the GCC, Yemen, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

Award categories will span: technological innovation; specialist achievement awards for radiology, surgery, pharma, support services, hospital development; best public-private healthcare partnership; best international healthcare partnerships; outstanding contribution to regional healthcare service and Middle East dealer/distributor of the year.

"A panel of eminent regional and international experts chaired by Prof. Joel J Nobel, MD, founder and president emeritus of international healthcare advi-sory body ECRI (formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute) will select the winners," said John Hassett, Exhibitions Director, Healthcare division, IIR Exhibitions & Conferences Hassett.

The Middle East Arab Health awards, sponsored by Al Zahra Hospital, Philips Medical Systems, GE Medical Systems, the Saudi German Hospitals Group and Stryker, will be presented across 10 categories at a gala dinner and award ceremony on January 20, during Arab Health 2004.