Arab Health 2024 was a resounding success, with exhibitors showcasing groundbreaking technologies, cutting-edge medical equipment, and transformative innovations. The event drew a global audience, providing a platform for industry leaders to highlight their advancements and forge meaningful connections. Below, exhibitors share their experiences, emphasising the significance of Arab Health for their businesses and expressing their commitment to returning for the 50th edition next year.
Spotlight on hospital and community equipment
Givas is an Italian company based in the north of Italy. It specialises in manufacturing hospital equipment, including hospital beds, pediatric beds, and stretchers, designed to meet the highest standards of healthcare facilities.
At Arab Health 2024, Givas highlighted several groundbreaking products. The star of their showcase was the innovative fully electrical armchair designed for dialysis or chemotherapy. This armchair is equipped with a unique scale system that enhances patient comfort and care efficiency. Additionally, Givas presented its versatile stretchers, which can be operated electrically or manually. These stretchers feature an electric fifth-wheel drive system, making it easier to move and position patients. Their range of hospital beds also garnered significant attention.
Chiara De Marchi, a representative for Givas, expressed her satisfaction with her company’s participation in Arab Health over the years. She said the exhibition has consistently been a fruitful platform for the company, allowing them to connect with distributors, suppliers, and healthcare professionals.
Chiara De Marchi
The UAE market holds strategic importance for Givas, shared De Marchi. Participating in Arab Health enables the company to gain valuable insights into the local market dynamics and compare them with the Italian and broader European markets. As Arab Health is held at the beginning of the year, it provides an excellent opportunity for Givas to refine its marketing strategies, pricing, and product focus for the year ahead.
Enhancing healthcare standards
Chemical engineers G. Chandra Mouleshwar Reddy, Founder; Nirosha Reddy, Co-founder; and Sandeep Reddy Karla, Director-International Sales, Aspire Global Healthcare, founded the company in 2016. It specialises in advanced sterilisation equipment.
"We are into the R&D of sterilisation equipment that mainly goes into hospital requirements, such as air and surface disinfection systems, apart from using regular chemicals," explained Chandra Mouleshwar Reddy. Aspire's innovative approach integrates UV technology with bipolar ionisation, offering a patented system that addresses hospital-acquired infections effectively. "We have ceiling and wall-mounted units that can be used in critical and non-critical areas like hospitals, where there are more surgical site infections and hospital-acquired infections," added Reddy.
Sandeep Reddy Karla, Nirosha Reddy, G. Chandra Mouleshwar Reddy
This year marked Aspire Global Healthcare's debut at Arab Health. "This was our first time at the show, and we had some good enquiries from companies in the GCC, Europe, and Canada," said Sandeep Reddy Karla. The team was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest from visitors. "As a first-timer, this is definitely way beyond what we expected. We also appreciate the support provided by Informa Markets. We hope to launch more products at the show next year," Karla added.
The UAE market is strategically important to Aspire Global Healthcare. "UAE, particularly Dubai, connects the East and West markets," noted Nirosha Reddy. Aspire has registered itself as a local company in the UAE, aiming to establish itself as a key player in the MENA and African regions.
Aspire Global Healthcare, backed by renowned Neurosurgeon Dr. Danunjaya Rao Ginjupally, is continuously expanding its product portfolio, now encompassing six distinct product ranges. The company is also in the process of launching a completely automated robotic system with AI capabilities. This innovation is expected to revolutionise hospital sterilisation processes, further cementing Aspire's position in the market.
Innovating breast cancer treatment
Xcision Medical Systems introduced a groundbreaking advancement in breast cancer treatment at Arab Health 2024: the Gammapod. This device is the first of its kind, specifically dedicated to breast stereotactic radiation therapy.
Michelle Crawley, President of Xcision Medical Systems, highlighted the strategic importance of Arab Health. She said: “Dubai is a crossroads where people are focused on doing good business. And Arab Health is a great platform for discussion, as some of the world's most pressing health-related problems are highlighted here. Breast cancer is now becoming quite prevalent, and the undiagnosed cases are a big problem.”
Michelle Crawley
Gammapod represents Xcision’s pioneering efforts in medical technology. Crawley explained: “Gammapod is Xcision’s first product; our other products that are under development are a few years away. Medical devices take a long time to bring to market. But Gammapod is FDA-cleared and CE-marked; it is a technology that will transform the way that breast cancer is treated and the way that patients view screening. Gammapod is a non-invasive and non-painful treatment that does not leave you disfigured and isn't a big financial burden, and that's really what we want to do to help solve this public health problem.”
Since receiving FDA clearance almost five years ago, Gammapod has been used to treat patients at four sites worldwide. Crawley emphasised the device's global reach and standard of care: “We have four sites around the world that have been treating patients since our FDA clearance. This is a standard of care you can get in the United States and Europe. We are excited to bring it to the Middle East,” she added.
Crawley shared her positive experience at Arab Health, noting the strong interest in Gammapod from various regions. “Our booth was put together by our distributor in this region, Med Capital, who are building the Seibel Breast Cancer Center in Dubai. At Arab Health, I also met with distributors from India, the UK, Europe, Australia, Indonesia, and Egypt. I would say this is the most successful business show I've ever been to,” she concluded.
Pioneering hemostatic solutions
CuraMedical, a Dutch company renowned for its absorbable hemostats, has made significant strides in the medical field by supplying these crucial products to 65 countries worldwide. Fred J. Hoogland, Director of Marketing & Sales, shared insights into the company’s operations and vision. "We specialise in absorbable hemostats and manufacture them ourselves in the Netherlands," he explained.
CuraMedical has been a longstanding participant in Arab Health, and this year was no different. Fred highlighted the importance of the event: "We have been participating in Arab Health for many years, and I have seen it grow. The halls here are filled with many visitors. We are utilising the exhibition as a meeting point for existing customers."
Fred J. Hoogland and Eric Hoogland
The UAE market is strategically important to CuraMedical. Fred emphasised this point by discussing their partnership with City Pharmacy: "Almost two years ago, we started with the new distributor, City Pharmacy, a very strong company in Dubai and the Emirates. We have a successful partnership with them."
At Arab Health, CuraMedical showcased its innovative product, TenaTac. Eric Hoogland, Quality, Regulatory Affairs and Operations Manager, provided details on this groundbreaking product: "We launched TenaTac in 2019, a gelatin patch with adhesive properties. It is a unique product that can transform the adhesive product market because this product is a gelatin sponge that has been mechanically modified, making it really adhesive to tissue. We are also investigating if it has sealing properties, which is exciting for the future."
Highlighting latest products
Rowad Medical Services is a prominent Saudi-based company dedicated to distributing medical equipment, particularly those related to infection control. In addition to distributing products, the company manufactures blood collection tubes and antiseptic solutions and is on the verge of expanding into the production of medical furniture. "We currently import medical furniture from Russia and distribute it," shared Lama Al Deeb, the representative of Rowad Medical Services.
Lama Al Deeb
This year marked Rowad Medical Services' fourth consecutive participation in Arab Health. Al Deeb highlighted the significance of the event for their company: "We like to participate in this event because it brings people from all around the world together. We come here to seek more exposure and to explore partnerships in new technologies and innovation."
At their stand, they showcased a remarkable UV-C Surface Disinfectant, a product currently used in all Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals in Saudi Arabia. "We also have a patent on that, which gives us a competitive advantage," Al Deeb noted, emphasising Rowad Medical Services' unique position in the market. The product received considerable interest from attendees, underscoring its importance and effectiveness in infection control.
Looking ahead, Rowad Medical Services is poised to introduce hyperbaric oxygen therapy to its product lineup. "We have noticed a lot of demand for this product," Al Deeb mentioned, indicating the company's proactive approach to meeting market needs.
Eyeing growth in GCC
Established in 1954 by King Faisal II, the Iraqi Pharmaceutical Industry Company has long been a cornerstone of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Iraq. Over the decades, the company has undergone significant transformations, with a major renovation and expansion in 2016 marking a new era of growth and innovation.
"Now, we are the only factory that produces oncology products in solid form in Iraq, and we're expanding throughout the GCC," said Wael L. Mirza, Board Member of the company.
Wael L. Mirza
The company's participation in Arab Health was a strategic move to showcase its advancements and connect with industry leaders. "We came to Arab Health to participate and show the world where we are today and how Iraqi manufacturers are growing in the GCC," Mirza explained.
The event provided an ideal platform for the company to highlight its achievements and future plans. "We welcomed a lot of visitors to our stand. Arab Health is one of the best events in the healthcare industry, so it's a good opportunity to showcase your products. I recommend participating to everyone in the industry," he added.
The UAE holds a pivotal role in the company’s expansion strategy. The country's status as a central hub for business and trade makes it a crucial market for the Iraqi Pharmaceutical Industry Co. The company is actively working with the UAE ministry to register its products, a key step towards supplying the UAE and the broader GCC region.
Shedding light on healthcare excellence
Al-Ahli Hospital is Qatar's largest private healthcare institution. "We have all the services and 31 specialities, apart from oncology," said Mohamad Charanek, Head of Marketing and Business Development. The hospital is widely regarded as one of the best in the region, providing top-tier medical care with a team of 180 doctors and 250 inpatient beds, with plans to expand to 400 inpatient beds. Al-Ahli Hospital is equipped with the most advanced technology, including state-of-the-art MRI radiology screening systems.
Mohamad Charanek
At Arab Health, Al-Ahli Hospital promoted its comprehensive medical services and groundbreaking initiatives. The first is their Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, which was developed in-house by the IT department. "It's quite advanced tech. It has the future of integration with all the insurance companies we deal with," Charanek explained. This system includes features for doctors, allied health professionals, nurse assistants, and pharmacy inventory management. A unique selling point is that patients have direct and instant access to their medical records. Al-Ahli Hospital aims to sell this innovative system internationally, regionally, and across the GCC.
The second initiative is an awards program accredited by the Government of Qatar to honour pioneering Arab doctors worldwide. The award recognises doctors who have contributed significantly to medical research and practice. "There is a committee of professors and doctors who will study all the profiles of the nominees, and then they will select the best doctor," he added. The first edition of this award took place at the end of April 2024 and will be an annual event.
This year, Al-Ahli Hospital took a significant step by participating as an exhibitor at Arab Health rather than just attending as a visitor. The hospital received numerous potential business inquiries and met doctors interested in joining their team. Additionally, they connected with technology suppliers. The experience was highly beneficial, and Al-Ahli Hospital looks forward to participating again next year.
Specialised products
Meber is an Italian company that manufactures emergency medical equipment for pre-hospital and rescue scenarios. "We manufacture stretchers, stair chairs, and everything else that goes into an ambulance," explained Luca Rattotti, Export Area Manager at Meber.
Luca Rattotti and Noemi
The company has a longstanding presence at Arab Health and has participated for over 15 years. "It's my second time here. Compared to last year, there is a much larger crowd at the exhibition, which is way busier. We received visitors who are our target audience, so we are very satisfied," added Rattotti.
The UAE market is of significant importance to Meber. "The UAE market is one of the most important for us. We have an exclusive distributor here," said Rattotti. “The region is a major source of revenue, prompting Meber to invest heavily and commit to this market. Arab Health serves as a crucial platform for Meber to engage with clients from around the world."
While Meber consolidated its range of offers this year, the company is excited about future innovations. The company is already planning its return to Arab Health with ambitions for a larger presence. "Next year, we want to highlight our motorised power stretcher.
We look forward to returning to Arab Health with a bigger booth and welcoming all the visitors, guests, and new clients," concluded Rattotti.
Don't miss the 50th edition of Arab Health next year! As the healthcare industry's most important event, Arab Health is instrumental in connecting regional and international policy leaders, thought leaders, and healthcare professionals through trade and innovation. Register your interest here.
