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Hospital interiors shaping patient experience

Article-Hospital interiors shaping patient experience

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Conscious of the sector evolving, with patient preferences and government policies changing, owners of healthcare facilities are growing conscious of the impact that interior design has on patient outcomes and visitor perceptions. A new, extended, or refurbished healthcare facility is more than just a combination of passive elements that contribute to the institution's overall "look and feel." They add value to the facility's main mission, patient care.

There are numerous instances where healthcare facilities have factored in appealing elements into their spaces, however, it is imperative to prioritise design elements that promote patient care. Evidence-based design, or the integration of reliable research to impact built environments for enhancing patient outcomes, is the foundation of modern hospital interiors. 

A facility with design unity maintains a similar appearance and feel throughout all of its divisions and sectors. Maintaining continuity across “old” and “new” areas of healthcare facilities is crucial at a time when most healthcare construction projects involve expansions or renovations.

Comfort through design

A hospital is not only a place of medical care, but its environment hosts patients and visitors who can be overwhelmed with emotional highs, incessant fear. This creates a need for comfort which Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai recognised. The hospital and medical university will be hosting art exhibits in its atrium. Photography, paintings, and sculptures are just a few of the interdisciplinary art genres featured in the exhibition. 

“The art exhibition has been on our agenda for a while now and we are glad to have launched this initiative, said Dr Fatih Mehmet Gul, CEO, Fakeeh University Hospital. “Fakeeh University Hospital’s design allows for a lot of open and calm spaces and we wanted to utilize this creatively and considerately. This initiative is an ideal opportunity to support UAE’s plethora of talent, along with providing a beautiful, soothing, and healing environment for our visitors.” 

The concept of healing architecture has gained prominence as research has found that patient outcomes improve when certain design decisions are made. 

Patients with bipolar disorder spent four days less in the hospital on average when they were assigned east-facing rooms that captured morning sunlight, according to an investigation conducted by neuropsychiatric doctors in Italy. Whereas in Sweden, an architect renovated a neonatal critical care unit in a hospital after shadowing the employees. Premature newborns' hospital stays were significantly reduced once the program was implemented.

In a study of aggressive patients, doctors found that patients whose rooms had posters displaying views of nature had 70 percent fewer sedative injections than those whose rooms had blank walls.

Safeguarding through design

Cleanability, which is associated with evidence-based design, is likely the most essential protection against disease transmission in environments that are naturally contaminated. 

Surface contamination that can contribute to healthcare-associated infections can be reduced by paying particular attention to the style of the furniture you choose (HAI). The furnishings and finishes of patient rooms are particularly vulnerable to infections. Seams and joints create an ideal environment for potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

Code compliance is mandatory for healthcare institutions. The safety of patients, visitors, and facility staff is crucial; thus, code compliance must come first in interior design projects. 

The Time Is Now: Leveraging mobile technology to create systems of care that scale

Article-The Time Is Now: Leveraging mobile technology to create systems of care that scale

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Too often, healthcare providers are prevented from providing the best care possible by communication hurdles during time sensitive emergencies. From the missed radio report, to the page sent to the wrong team member, to the time spent not knowing whether the cath lab is ready for your patient, most hospitals’ disjointed communication approaches contribute to fragmentation, delays, and breakdowns.

The patching together of traditional, fragmented healthcare communication channels that open and close during a patient event—radios, telephones, pagers, faxes, emails—causes inevitable delays that negatively impact patient care.

The solution to this problem is networked communication, powered by a rapid, multi-directional flow of information among many-to-many relationships, that is supported by interconnected mobile and online technologies. This can be accomplished by uniting the care team on a single, secure communication channel by means of creating a dedicated channel for a patient event and dynamically building the care team and adding teams, organisations, or individuals on the fly. 

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The future healthcare delivery model

Video-The future healthcare delivery model

COVID-19 has reshaped the narrative about healthcare safety and has shifted the responsibilities of future healthcare leaders. This year of crisis has put even greater emphasis on leadership as patients, clinicians, and staff look for direction in the face of uncertainty and stress.

Omnia Health Magazine recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr Azad Moopen, the visionary Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, to discuss the complex environments being faced by hospital leaders today and some of the strategies that can be used to chart a course ahead.

Dr Moopen needs no introduction, and his name is synonymous with healthcare in the UAE. He started a single doctor clinic in Dubai in 1987. Today, under his leadership, Aster DM Healthcare has grown into a global healthcare conglomerate with hundreds of facilities spread across several countries. His mission is to provide quality healthcare at affordable costs and his efforts have played a significant role in shaping the healthcare delivery model of the region. 

Excerpts:

How has your role as a healthcare leader changed, given the need to operate in the pandemic?

COVID-19 has been one of the most challenging crises in the history of our lifetime. Being at the centre of this pandemic as a healthcare player, we bore the brunt of the attack. One of the first things we did was as leaders was to take care of our people. Protecting the patient is our primary duty, but we have to take care of ourselves first so that we are able to take care of others.

The second most important thing was to see how we could remain sustainable. As leaders, we didn't want to run into a situation where we didn't have the supplies and resources to run day-to-day operations. We also had to increase the logistical capability to have these contracts, get the supplies on time, and be well-stocked. In addition, due to the pandemic, patients were not coming in and were asked to stop elective procedures. So, there were a lot of important issues that we had to tackle head-on.

Moreover, there was disruption as some frontline workers had to battle the disease themselves. We had to ensure that we had enough resources in the pipeline to deal with any such setbacks. The third factor was the requirement of funding for supporting these initiatives. So, we paused many of our upcoming projects to have as many financial resources available to us as possible.

We also strengthened our digital capacity during this period. Many of us, including me, have been working from home and connecting with people. So, there was the question of how we were communicating with our people. While our frontline soldiers were working in the hospitals, we worked behind the scenes and enhanced our digital channels. We strengthened our connectivity and security to ensure things can move smoothly. Since people were not allowed to go out or come into offices, digital transformation stepped in and allowed us to connect with our staff virtually and give them confidence. What happened is very surprising. The last year saw 10 times more digitalisation than what was before COVID. That's one of the significant benefits, which is going to stay.

What is the long-term outlook for the healthcare sector in the Middle East? What are going to be some of the major sector drivers?

I feel that the long-term outlook for the healthcare sector in the Middle East is very bright, especially in some countries where there is a significant requirement for the demand-supply gap to be met. For example, a country like Saudi Arabia has a vast population and a demand-supply gap at various levels which offers a significant opportunity for healthcare facilities expansion.

 I see UAE becoming a destination for Medical Value Travel  for the Middle East in the next 10 years for tertiary and Quarternary medical care as well as for wellness-related treatments. People from other countries in the Middle East will also start coming to the UAE, especially Dubai, for treatment as it is well connected with good infrastructure, hotels, etc. Also, language is an advantage as most people in the Middle East speak Arabic. So medical value travel is going to be one of the major growth areas in the future.

Furthermore, digital transformation will change how healthcare is delivered by taking healthcare more towards people's homes rather than being done in the clinics or even in hospitals. Healthcare has been imprisoned in the brick and mortar of hospitals for eons and have to move to the homes of the people who require it like what happened in most other domains. Hospitals and clinics will, of course, be there, but many people would prefer to consult a doctor, get a prescription for mild illnesses or consult for chronic disease management from the comfort of their homes. So that's how the world is going to change, and we have to be at the forefront of that.

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Dr Azad Moopen

What are some of the challenges the region faces in developing its healthcare infrastructure?

One of the biggest challenges in the Middle East, especially in the UAE, is the availability of trained manpower. Getting good people is always a challenge. However, initiatives such as giving citizenship or long-term via to highly qualified people will make Dubai an attractive destination to settle down for professionals  Once you have  patients coming from other Middle Eastern countries to Dubai added on to the stability of professionals settling down in Dubai for the long haul, more talent will come into the country. This challenge is to be addressed in the long term by setting up teaching and research oriented medical institutions.

Technology, of course, is a challenge, but that will be met. For example, the future will be based on technologies such as 5G and robotic surgery.

What needs to be done to make the system more patient-centred?

Our whole focus should be on how the patient feels, not how we feel or how the business does. It's essential to improve service levels. The doctor is only a minor part of that, they, of course, have to treat well, but they will only be with the patient for a few minutes. The service levels of healthcare should match the levels set by the hospitality industry. Hospitals should be a hotel with attached medical treatment. The ambience should make a patient feel comfortable. It is also essential to look at patient feedback and observe how doctors and other staff manage their expectations. At Aster, our tagline is "We’ll treat you well". When we say that, we have to take it to heart and see that this is being practised.

If you could go back to the start of your career and give yourself advice, what would that be?

My advice would be it is "99 per cent perspiration and 1 per cent inspiration"! When people see success, they think that maybe it's good luck, but it's not like that. It involves years of hard toil. I remember working for 14-18 hours every day while I was a medical doctor. After becoming a businessman, too, I continue to work long hours. It's an iceberg phenomenon. You don't see the lower part, which is a lot of struggles, frustrations and failures. You see the tip, which is  the shining success only

I want to add that people who have been successful should give a part of it back to people who need it . The best exercise for the heart, I think, is to bend and lift somebody who is in need.

This article appears in the latest issue of Omnia Health Magazine. Read the full issue online today.  

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine plans for Africa and Middle East

Video-Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine plans for Africa and Middle East

Last year, Pfizer raced to develop a COVID-19 vaccine in record time, and these have been instrumental in saving many lives. Recently, the company also rolled out the vaccine for 12-to-15-year old's marking a significant step in the fight against the pandemic.

Omnia Health Magazine sat down with Patrick van der Loo, Pfizer's newly appointed Regional President for Africa and the Middle East (AfME) region, to discuss this recent announcement and the company's vaccine plans for the region.



Patrick's Pfizer experience spans more than 20 years in leadership roles with multiple successes across geographies. He will lead the commercial operations to bring scientific breakthroughs in vaccines, oncology, and rare diseases to serve patients better in his new role. He said: "We are in a great period of transformation in Africa and the Middle East, and so for me, it's a great honour to have been elected as the regional president for this region at this pivotal point in time." Excerpts:

Pfizer recently rolled out vaccines for children between the ages of 12 to 15. How safe is it?

Recently, an analysis of our phase three trial in this population was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In these situations, it is essential to balance efficacy, safety and tolerability. The findings demonstrated that the vaccine efficacy in this group was 100 per cent, with robust antibody responses in the age group of 12 to 15 years, and that's with or without prior evidence of infection. The trial was conducted in the U.S. with 2,260 adolescents participating. With regards to safety and tolerability, it had a very favourable profile. It's comparable to other adolescent vaccines, which are mainly transient, with mild to moderate reactogenicity, and there were no serious adverse events. The results have significant implications for vaccination of this age group because it will help prevent disease and community transmissions. It will also help protect the health of these young people and allow them to safely return to school and participate in extracurricular activities, which is especially important given the severe mental health impact of COVID-19 on this age group in particular.

What is Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine plan, specifically for Africa and the Middle East region?

The next steps are making sure that the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available in low to middle-income countries. There are several plans to make sure that we are also represented in those countries appropriately. There is also a lot of trial work going on, including in the region, in other patient populations. For example, trials are going on in pregnant women, and as a result, also in newborns. Based on the outcome of the trials, we expect several countries to act very quickly in the region regarding approval in these patient populations. Another recent topic of discussion has been if booster doses are required, and how long will the vaccine remain effective for? We started vaccinating as early as December last year. So, there are multiple trials taking place regarding the necessity and efficacy of having this booster dose and will it be needed. It looks like it will be, which will lead to a lot of work that would need to be done with countries that we have agreements with already for the initial vaccination of their population.

Tell us about your move from Asia-Pacific to the AfME region?

AfME is a vibrant and diverse region spanning numerous geographies, nationalities, cultures, and languages. Yet, common to all countries in AfME is an underlying sense of dynamism characterised by developed and fast-developing economies. Against that backdrop, we have a fascinating and considerable opportunity to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives across the region. After working with Pfizer for more than 20 years in Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific, I look forward to learning about the intricacies of the local markets here, getting to know my colleagues, and bringing my emerging markets experience and Pfizer best practices to the region. One of my first significant projects here involves the careful implementation and execution of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine delivery across several countries in partnership with numerous governments and ministry bodies. This project gives me great hope and is a tremendous and tangible example of meaningful ways to impact patients' lives.

What are some significant trends that will be driving the growth of the healthcare industry in this region?

When I started this role, I observed that the regional healthcare sector here is very dynamic. I think there's a critical period of growth ahead for both the industry and the countries that we operate in. The key to facilitating development is a robust regulatory framework that encourages innovation. The key to that framework is questions around intellectual property or IP protection, which has been an issue in this region in the past. A strong IP culture helps to promote medical progress in many ways. It provides incentives to sustain R&D across therapeutic areas. It encourages technology transfer and attracts capital, both local as well as foreign direct investment. Together these elements fuel innovation and economic growth while supporting the creation of medicines that save lives. Conversely, inadequate regulatory frameworks for intellectual property rights will fundamentally increase the length of time it takes to deliver treatments to patients, which you see in certain countries. Still, I'm very encouraged by what I see from a government perspective who want to make this work. Governments that are focused on creating these frameworks of quality, safety, efficacy while supporting the development of innovative pharmaceutical products will leverage growth the best. There is a lot of ambition in countries throughout the region, not just in the Gulf but also in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, these goals support the move towards knowledge-based economies rather than brick and mortar-based economies, which will help retain and develop the next generation of talent needed to power the future healthcare industry. Numerous other trends will help drive growth. This includes collaboration with the wider ecosystem to ensure better patient access, which is very important in Africa, Middle East, and from an industry and customer perspective, and openness to adapt to newer ways to engage with customers.

What is Pfizer doing to drive greater patient access across Africa and the Middle East?

We have several patient access programmes that help eligible patients who cannot afford their Pfizer medication. There are over 30 programmes in 11 countries across Africa and the Middle East to provide affordable solutions in this space. We support the lives of over 4,500 patients suffering from various oncology, inflammatory and rare diseases. But aside from these patient access programmes, there are also structural elements we work on. We work on those both as an individual company and an industry partner with several countries on managed entry agreements. These have a particular focus on health outcome-based models. This we do to accelerate access to innovation in these countries. And as an industry partner, we are supporting the efforts of the governments to develop policies that are aimed at creating headroom for innovative medicines. We are trying to achieve greater efficiencies and spending on off-patent medicines and other health system policies related to pharmaceutical spending.

What is Pfizer's vision for AfME and the company's 2021 regional growth plans?

At Pfizer, all our work is fundamentally underlined by our mission to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives.

That dictates all our work globally, including in Africa and the Middle East, where for the past 60 years, we have been working with healthcare professionals, communities, and governments to that end. We are proud to share that in 2020, we changed the lives of 6.6 million patients across the region.

Simultaneously, as a global company, Pfizer is shifting from a diversified company with a consumer health portfolio and comprehensive portfolio of legacy brands to a more science-focused biopharmaceutical powerhouse. As part of that transformation, one of our core priorities is promoting innovation in the region across our full range of therapeutic areas – oncology, vaccines, rare diseases, internal medicine, inflammation & immunology, and hospital products.

We are working closely with governments and other key stakeholders to support the development of necessary infrastructure to encourage industry-wide innovation and growth, including regional research and development capabilities and regulatory environments. Together these efforts are designed to help us deliver more breakthroughs locally. For example, our efforts over recent years with the passion of our teams and work with health authorities have helped speed up pharmaceutical product registrations, allowing us to bring therapies to market quicker for patients in need.

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Patrick van der Loo

What are some of the significant milestones Pfizer has achieved for the AfME region?

As part of our regional efforts to deliver breakthroughs, there are currently multiple clinical trial protocols (phase 2 and 3) under review.  Some of them have already reached the final stages of development and approval in oncology, vaccine, public health, and gene therapy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The trial of gene therapy in Duchenne's disease at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre is a key milestone. It shows the increased interest in working with key centres in the region.

In addition, we supplied Pfizer pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to 15 countries National Immunization Programmes, which help to vaccinate around four million newly born babies every year.

We have also made considerable progress in delivering medical breakthroughs across the region. In 2020, we registered 55 products, and this year we have registered 26 to date. Several of these are registered in countries with particularly challenging regulatory environments where these efforts historically would have taken much longer.

We have great many Pfizer milestones related to the successes of our team. Diversity and inclusion are critical values at Pfizer AfME, and we are mainly focused on reducing the gender gap. For example, in April 2021, 61 per cent of our new hires were female.

We are also proud to share that several Pfizer AfME offices have been recently recognised as top employers. Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia were certified as the 'Best Places to Work' in 2020/2021. In addition, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, and Nigeria have all been recognised by the Top Employers Institute for 2020/2021. Testament to our HR teams, policies, and overall corporate culture, one of our core focuses are developing talent from a global mindset and building enterprise leaders.

In 2019, we launched what we call LAFTA, a programme designed to provide knowledge, experience, and practical tools to accelerate the growth and development of aspiring female talent in AfME. It consists of activities such as leadership coaching, personal branding training, mentorship opportunities, and much more. As part of our broader efforts, we also actively encourage the exchange of talent and expertise across geographic regions. Recent events related to the COVID-19 pandemic and new work from home policies have also enabled us to look at new opportunities for developing talent more broadly across the regions.

We have made considerable progress in delivering medical breakthroughs across the region. In South Africa, for example, we accelerated the registration of our breast cancer therapy. What previously took over five years was completed in 14 months which is a significant breakthrough.

How important are Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) as a focus for Pfizer in the region?

Collaborations between public and private organisations are a powerful tool to support innovation, growth and development. Across AfME, much of our work involves partnering together with governments, sharing our expertise and insights to achieve our shared objective of supporting patients' wellbeing.

One of the most recent and successful outcomes of our long-held partnership with the Algerian authorities was the launch of B-Imtiyaz. As part of the programme, developed together with the Ministry of Education, selected students receive industry training from Pfizer and global industry experts to support their professional career development. By equipping students with the expert knowledge and tools needed to embark on a successful career in pharma and biotech, our goal is to support the next generation of Algerian scientists who will drive innovation across the sector.

With many markets in the region focused on shifting to knowledge-based economies, the work of private companies will continue to remain critical to governments. By bringing global best practices and expertise to the table while governments implement them according to local particularities, PPPs combine the best of both partners making for fruitful collaborations.

This article appears in the latest issue of Omnia Health Magazine. Read the full issue online today.  

Podcast

Patient Talk Podcast: Future management of the pandemic through existing and new assays

Article-Patient Talk Podcast: Future management of the pandemic through existing and new assays

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In 2020 the UAE became the first country worldwide in which the number of Covid-19 tests exceeded the population count, with local health authorities performing in excess of 10 million tests.  

Mubadala Healthcare's National Reference Laboratory (NRL), focused on increasing the quality, spectrum, coverage and efficiency of lab testing in the UAE and region, last year introduced an advanced virus-detection system and adopted new technology for delivering test results in record time.

In this last Patient Talk episode, we chat with Dr James G Donnelly, Technical Director at National Reference Laboratory (NRL), to uncover more about how NRL responded to the pandemic, and how they are innovating.   

Dr Donnelly is an expert in laboratory operations with experience in academic, corporate, and clinical laboratory settings.

 

Global healthcare industry prioritises digital solutions in pandemic era

Article-Global healthcare industry prioritises digital solutions in pandemic era

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Since the publishing of our 2020 Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook, in partnership with GRS Research & Strategy, the world has entered a new era defined by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Our updated Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook for 2021 shows that the global health crisis has propelled the healthcare sector towards a distinct shift in priorities, particularly in implementing new technologies.

The following is a sneak preview of some of the key findings in this area from our global survey of 1,600 healthcare professionals.

Digitalisation and telemedicine are top priority

We asked the healthcare industry about the current educational gaps related to survey respondents’ roles, and the answer was clear: technology. 31% of respondents identified this area as a knowledge gap – the highest response over leadership, medical specialty, marketing and other areas.

Zooming in on the data, we found that the highest percentage of survey respondents from all areas of the industry – agents, dealers and distributors, clinics and medical practices, consultancies and manufacturers – identified digitalisation as having the most impact on their business. While this was also true of the previous survey, the percentage has risen from 39% in December 2019 to 44% – with a decline in the overall impact of other areas such as AI and IoT. Digitalisation was also the most prioritised technological investment for all of the key industry areas over the next 12 months, particularly in the Africa and Europe regions. 

For medical practitioners on the ground, investment in new technology has become the top priority for 2021. 48% of clinics and medical practices responded that this was the best opportunity for their business growth over the next 12 months – compared to just 23% identifying diversification and 27% looking to enter new markets to achieve growth.

Investment in new technology is particularly concentrated in the GCC region where 45% of respondents identified it as the best opportunity over diversification, business expansion or entering new markets. Telemedicine has become a crucial development for clinics and medical practices, particularly those with a turnover of US$ 5-10 million, and more so in the GCC and Middle East than other regions.

With medicine moving online, digital marketing was overwhelmingly number one in terms of learning objectives, with 41% of respondents identifying this area as their main skills focus for the next 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence needs real-world skills

AI remains the second most impactful area of tech overall, but has seen a decline from 36% in December 2019 to 33%. Skills required to implement Artificial Intelligence have, however, increased, with 11% more respondents noting that their personnel were trained in this area than in 2019.

In Europe, the picture is slightly different to the global one, with AI dropping below Robotics to third priority for investment – and AI in electronic health records being the lowest of the region’s tech priorities at just 10%. Interestingly, Robotics is also a much higher priority in the GCC (23%) and Asia (15%) than in Africa (8%) and the Americas (6%).

AI in electronic health records is also a higher priority in the Americas than in any other region, and it’s a higher priority for clinics and medical practices (as well as for companies with a turnover above US$ 100 million) than it is for agents, dealers and distributors, consultancies and manufacturers – which all place higher priority on AI in diagnostics. The Internet of Medical Things is a bigger priority over the next 12 months for companies with a smaller turnover than for those with a turnover above $26 million.

In the Africa region, however, AI is having the least impact on respondents. Transformation to value-based care is the highest priority for this region, with the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) taking second priority. At 39%, this is the most of all the regions for IoT.

Blockchain and Big Data haven’t yet fulfilled the buzz

Despite being the buzzwords of the last few years, blockchain and VR/AR are having the least impact of all the areas of tech that we questioned at just 6-8%. Big Data, while remaining the third most impactful technology, also declined from 26% in December 2019 to 24%.

Big Data is a bigger business for consultancies who specialise in it, and is a slightly higher priority in Africa, the Americas, the GCC and the Middle East than in Asia and Europe.

The future looks Big (Tech)

When asked about emerging trends, almost two-thirds of respondents anticipate greater Big Tech involvement in healthcare – with a particularly high proportion from the Americas looking to the likes of Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google over the next 12 months. In Europe, though, a higher proportion of respondents expect digital passports to emerge as a key trend.

For clinics and medical practices, the regulation of health misinformation was seen as one of the most likely emerging trends in the tech space.

Sponsored Content

Italy brings innovative SMEs and start-ups to Arab Health 2021

Article-Italy brings innovative SMEs and start-ups to Arab Health 2021

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Italy will reinforce its position as a leader in the global healthcare market with innovative SMEs and start-ups a core part of the country’s offering at Arab Health this week. As one of the biggest attractions at the event, Italian producers are offering advanced solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health and wellness issues.

Italy is currently ranked as the number one producer for medicine and drugs in the EU, with a pharmaceutical turnover of 31.2 billion Euros, plus, the country has one of the highest growth rates. of investment in R&D in the sector. Italy is not only competitive in the global market but is also the eighth largest world economy and the second manufacturing economy in the EU.

Italy’s spotlight on the country’s healthcare SMEs and start-ups at this year’s Arab Health, follows the Italian government’s sponsorship of a 1 billion Euros investment program aimed at the native startup ecosystem in June 2020. As a result, the number of Italian start-up companies has boomed over the past year, with 13,000 start-ups now registered in Italy as of December 2020.

His Excellency Nicola Lener, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, commented on the strong trade relationship that Italy has with the UAE, “Life Sciences are today one of Italy’s leading sectors, with an integrated ecosystem spanning from pharmaceuticals to medical devices, from regenerative medicine to precision health and diagnostics, from biotechnological research to genomics, from telemedicine to robotics, and also the development of software and data analysis tools. At Arab Health, Italian companies will be demonstrating their innovation capabilities – which have been further boosted by the disruption caused by the pandemic – and will be looking to increase their support of the expanding healthcare sector in the UAE and in the wider region.”

Fifty-one Italian companies, including eight innovative start-ups selected by ITA in its official pavilion, are present at Arab Health. Amedeo Scarpa, Italian Trade Commissioner said, “The Italian contingent at Arab Health is one of the largest offerings by any country. The exhibition is one of the most important globally in this sector and as a country, we heavily invest in healthcare innovation by supporting young individuals with a dynamic outlook. Not by chance, 18 per cent of new Italian start-ups are founded by under 35s.

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Amedeo Scarpa

Looking ahead to later this year, Italy’s strong presence at Arab Health is a snapshot of what to expect from Italy’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai under the claim “Beauty connects people”.

For further information about Italy’s presence at Arab Health, please visit the Italian Trade Agency pavilion located in Hall 7, Stand H7.C111 

Follow ITA on Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin @ITADubai to see all their latest Arab Health updates

Sponsored Content

ProCuity promotes safe patient handling

Article-ProCuity promotes safe patient handling

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ProCuity bed series is designed to help reduce in-hospital patient falls at all acuity levels and improve nurse workflow efficiencies and safety. It can connect seamlessly to nurse call systems without the use of cables or wires. 

Set at a low height of 29.2 cm, ProCuity is ergonomically designed with the latest technologies to promote safe patient handling and help reduce fall-related injuries, including intuitive patient positioning and bed alarms as well as ergonomic side rails. Helping to address nurse call cable connectivity issues prevalent in hospitals today, ProCuity can be equipped with fully wireless features. Additionally, the bed’s easy-to-use touchscreens and other key components are designed to make the job of caregivers easier and more efficient, while providing for a more enhanced patient experience.

SAFE:

  • The ergonomically designed headboard, footboard, and three-position Secure® Assist Siderails enables safer patient handling.
  • Patients can charge and store their personal electrical devices from inside the bed, reducing disruptions to the workflow and eliminating trip hazards from device cords.

SMART:

  • Smart prompts and a touchscreen user interface help improve efficiencies and reduce errors. Durable touchscreen has been crash-tested and is easy to clean.

SCALABLE:

  • Includes features to accommodate your workflow such as our new Secure® Line Management accessory, pump rack, and auxiliary outlets, which allows the management and organization of the patient’s personal electronic devices directly from the footboard.
  • Designed for easy access, the CPR handle flattens the bed for emergency cardiac care.
Medical
This document is intended solely for the use of healthcare professionals. A healthcare professional must always rely on his or her own professional clinical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product when treating a particular patient. Stryker does not dispense medical advice and recommends that healthcare professionals be trained in the use of any particular product before using it. The information presented is intended to demonstrate the breadth of Stryker product offerings. A healthcare professional must always refer to the package insert, product label and/or instructions for use before using any Stryker product. Products may not be available in all markets because product availability is subject to the regulatory and/or medical practices in individual markets. Please contact your Stryker representative if you have questions about the availability of Stryker products in your area. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Stryker, iBed, Secure Connect, Procuity. ProCuity: Class Im (2797). All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders. The products depicted are CE marked in accordance with applicable EU Regulations and Directives.
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Arab Health and Medlab Middle East 2021 to propel the healthcare industry forward

Article-Arab Health and Medlab Middle East 2021 to propel the healthcare industry forward

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Arab Health, the leading medical equipment exhibition in the Middle East showcasing the latest innovations in healthcare, is gearing up for its post-pandemic edition to bring the industry together to learn, network and trade.

From state-of-the-art imaging equipment to the most cost-effective disposables; developments in surgery to advances in prosthetics, all the latest medical technologies and innovative solutions will be on display at the show. Established 46 years ago, Arab Health provides a platform for the world’s leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to meet the medical and scientific community in the Middle East and subcontinent.

This year’s edition is expected to welcome thousands of international healthcare companies and host over 51,000 attendees from 170 countries in-person and online during the four-day showcase. A range of strict precautionary and preventive measures have been implemented to ensure that events can go ahead safely. The event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 21-24 June under the theme 'United by Business'.

Furthermore, bringing together influencers from all major medical disciplines, under the theme of ‘Looking Ahead. Embracing Innovation’, Arab Health will host 9 CME accredited medical conferences and three health conferences on innovation and technology. The 2021 conferences include: Total radiology, Surgery, Public Health, Orthopaedics, PMR, Pharma & Drug Discovery, ENT, Digital Health & Innovation and much more.

For instance, at the inaugural Pharma and Drug Discovery Conference to be held on the opening day, Qutaiba Al Manaseer, Government Affairs Director, Middle East and Africa, AstraZeneca, will be presenting the session Oxford University and AstraZeneca partnership towards broad and equitable access to COVID-19 Vaccine.

"From the start of the pandemic, AstraZeneca's approach has focused on partnering with scientists, governments, multilateral organisations and manufacturers to establish agreements for the development and supply of our vaccine, and to fight the pandemic, together,” said Al Manaseer.

The other experts presenting at the conference include Dr Yang Xiaoming, Chairman of the China National Biotech Group (CNBG), Prof Graham Ball, Professor of Bioinformatics, Nottingham and Trent University, UK, and Prof Mirza Baig, Professor and Chairman of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls.

MoHAP to showcase innovation

At the show, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) will showcase a range of innovative services, projects, and initiatives that leverage both smart and robotic systems, enhanced digital health practices and telemedicine, upgraded mental health services, big data and predictive models for managing health facilities, and implemented health information systems, among other flagship projects. These underscore the Health Ministry's strategy to deliver comprehensive, innovative, and world-class health services.

This year's Arab Health will provide the perfect platform to spotlight the flagship projects and tremendous efforts being made by the Ministry of Health to deliver healthcare services. It will also shed light on what has been achieved in the fields of healthcare quality, the implementation of flagship preventive and curative projects, as well as the success in achieving business continuity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

These efforts are designed to help encourage people to keep faith in the UAE's ability to pass the COVID-19 crisis, cultivate the spirit of optimism that the recovery phase is right around the corner and that the UAE is moving firmly and steadily towards global leadership leaving behind all crises and challenges. According to the 2020 Legatum Prosperity Index, the UAE has ranked first in the world in the Health Care Coverage Index.

H.E AbdulRahman bin Mohamed Al-Owais, the Minister of Health, said: “The UAE's forward-looking vision has placed healthcare among the most important national priorities, with the aim of providing world-class, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare services fulfilling the requirements of the sustainable development process, under a flexible and sophisticated government system whose foundations were laid by the UAE's wise leadership as a roadmap for country's march towards the UAE Centennial 2071.”

Al-Owais highlighted the importance of Arab Health in strengthening the UAE's status as a prestigious global hub in the fields of medicine, science, and healthcare, and harnessing technology to improve the quality of life and the sustainability of health services.

“Our participation in Arab Health aims to reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading healthcare hub through initiatives and projects focusing on cementing the preventive aspect and combating epidemics and chronic diseases, according to national indicators and performance standards,” he added.

“Arab Health this year comes at a time when the UAE has unlocked significant achievements in relation to the management, governance, and effective response to COVID-19, thanks to the national resilience in readiness, proactive plans, and the efficiency of the health system and the commitment to ensuring the continuity of business and services to maintain the state's gains.”

Al-Owais pointed to the UAE's leadership in providing the COVID-19 tests and vaccines to all community members, in order to enhance the acquired immunity, maintain the health and safety of the individuals, and move steadily and confidently toward the recovery phase.

The Health Minister concluded by commending the dedication, sacrifices, and tremendous efforts being made by the heroic teams in the front line of defence to maintain the health and safety of everyone.

Wouter Molman, Executive Vice President for Informa Markets, said: “The UAE Government and MoHAP have done an incredible job in welcoming the world, without restrictions, and ensuring events such as Arab health can go ahead. Our show theme is 'United by Business', which is indicative of the pent-up demand within the industry to get back to some form of normality and start doing business once again.”

“There is undoubtedly confidence and willingness from exhibitors and visitors to get back to the show floor and attend conferences, not just to meet, learn and to do business, but to share and develop pioneering healthcare delivery solutions after what has been one of the longest periods of absence we’ve seen in a generation. Fortunately, we’re able to facilitate this demand thanks to the vaccination programme, which is seeing a remarkable development in light of the huge support and potential provided by the UAE government,” he added.

In addition to MoHAP, other government entities attending the show this year include Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Dubai Health Authority, and the Dubai Government. They will be joined by a host of leading healthcare companies, thousands of medical product suppliers, and the latest innovative technology from around the world.

Bringing the world of laboratory medicine together

Medlab Middle East, the MENA region’s largest medical laboratory exhibition and congress, is all set to take place from 21-24 June at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Co-located with Arab Health, the event will bring the global healthcare community together under the show theme of ‘United by Business’. A host of countries have confirmed their participation and include the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Israel, Korea, Poland, Spain and the U.S.

A range of key laboratory and trade professionals from across the region are expected to attend the live and in-person event. It will feature a range of keynote speeches and scientific lectures, industry briefings, product demonstrations and networking opportunities, as well as a series of pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, with an emphasis on creating lasting relationships.

Tom Coleman, Exhibition Director for Informa Markets, said: “Bringing these premier healthcare events together will make it easier for the healthcare industry to reconnect, establish new contacts and most importantly, do business. This will be further endorsed by a series of online events which will enable attendees from anywhere in the world to participate utilising their valuable time most effectively.

“The event will also underscore the tireless work the medical laboratory and healthcare communities have undertaken in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. We want to highlight our appreciation of these people and celebrate what they have achieved in such a short period of time.”

Underscoring the confidence within the industry and the increased demand from laboratory professionals to participate in a physical event, several companies and health authorities will be exhibiting at in June. The UAE Ministry for Health and Prevention, the College of American Pathologists, Abbott Laboratories, Horiba, Randox Laboratories, Euroimmun, BioVender Group, Seegene, Stago and Erba Group have all confirmed thus far.

This sentiment was echoed by Ahmad Jeradi, COO, Advanced Technology Company, who said: “Ensuring the safety of our team was a crucial element in our decision to participate at Medlab Middle East this year. I’m confident that everything that could be done, has been done to ensure this is the case, and we now look forward to meeting and doing business with those in the laboratory industry for the first time in over a year.”

Last year, before travel restrictions and country-wide lockdowns, the event attracted over 23,000 professional visitors from over 140 countries and over 3,800 delegates. A total of 14 country pavilions were present at the 2020 edition of the show.

“Medlab Middle East has developed a 20-year pedigree in the medical laboratory sector and is, without doubt, the leader in its field. We will be utilising those years of experience to showcase the industry once more by bringing together key decision-makers in an innovative way and looking to the future of this critically important sector," said Coleman. 

The event will feature eight Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences during the live and in-person event and as part of the show's online element. New to the 2021 conference programme is a dedicated focus on COVID-19 which will address the latest scientific findings on the virus and discuss its impact on health in the region.

These will be complemented by returning accredited conferences: Laboratory Management, Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, Histopathology, Molecular & Genomic Diagnostics, Haematology and Blood Transfusion.  A series of medical speciality days have also been scheduled, with experts presenting the latest advancements in specific clinical specialties, including multi-omics, genetics, and stem cells.

Medlab Middle East is also hosting a range of dedicated online focus days until July 22 to allow participants to continue to do business as well as features over 180 educational sessions to choose from.

The online event platform for both Arab Health and Medlab Middle East was launched on 23 May and will remain available until 22 July.

For more information visit www.arabhealthonline.com and ww.medlabme.com 

International pandemic financing facility welcomed by ASG Senior Advisor

Article-International pandemic financing facility welcomed by ASG Senior Advisor

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The COVID-19 pandemic, in showing up the acute shortcomings of global supply chains and delivery mechanisms when dealing with a major global public health crisis, has taught a number of lessons, acknowledged Zaki Hosny, Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group, speaking to Omnia Health Insights ahead of Arab Health 2021.

The insufficient speed at which government and public health bodies around the world make and implement decisions, for one.

While small territories such as New Zealand and Taiwan acted quickly and decisively in responding to the pandemic in its early stages, for instance, many larger countries did not.

Days matter in a pandemic, making COVID-19 an altogether different challenge from the usual type of chronic public health crisis tackled within known parameters, whether for example a non-communicable disease or a cardiovascular disease.

Although a “very good initiative”, COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), designed to enable equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, did not start until late April 2020. To date more than 81 million vaccines have been shipped to 129 participants worldwide yet the programme continues to lag behind initial expectations in delivering to countries worldwide.

Welcoming the recommendations for preventing the next pandemic, put forward by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, co-chaired by Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Hosny called for a detailed global roadmap to be agreed on all by all major players ahead of time, as a form of contingency plan, owing to the difficulty of coordinating to create the necessary mechanisms during a global crisis. Such a roadmap would clearly articulate what needs doing, by whom and by when, Hosny explained.

The roadmap would include the creation of a standby pandemic financing facility, recommended in the Independent Panel’s report published in May 2021, to distribute up to US$ 10 billion a year for preparedness and up to US$ 100 billion to be made immediately available to countries and institutions in the event of a crisis.

Hosny offered the earlier example of the Group of Twenty (G20) quickly coming together in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and agreeing on economic recovery measures amounting to US$ 1.1 trillion.

Accelerated innovation

While much of the world was slow to come together in responding to the pandemic, the development of effective vaccines in record time, once genome sequences were in the public domain, was a resounding scientific success.

The world has reached an “inflection point” in medical technology innovation, according to Hosny, pointing to the sheer scale and speed of change today – the fruition of governments, private sector venturing financing and private enterprise coming together.

Progress in pharmaceuticals, medicines and, to an extent, medical devices, has traditionally been incremental: novel mechanisms of actions of drugs improve over a course of 15 to 20 years, for example. This will likely change, resulting in developing and discovering new ways of treating disease much earlier than at present.

Procuring supplies

While COVID-19 vaccine development was rapid, the procurement of vaccines themselves has been problematic.

In India recently, states have been competing with one another to procure vaccines, raising questions of vaccine equity and access (India’s central government is now considering reverting to centralised procurement).

Similarly in the United States, there was competition between the various states in procuring masks and ventilators.

In large federal systems, a centralised procurement mechanism is more appropriate, thereby efficiently coordinating at national level rather than delegating down leading to a potential “scramble” for supplies, Hosny explained.

Waiving IP for COVID-19 vaccines

The proposal to the WTO to temporarily waive provisions from the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement on IP rights and transfer technology to vaccine producers, was also questioned by Hosny.

The TRIPS waiver was proposed by India and South Africa with the goal of waiving implementation, application and enforcement of IP protections until “widespread vaccination is in place globally, and the majority of the world’s population has developed immunity.”

Today it is sponsored by 62 countries and backed by the Biden-Harris Administration.

While understanding that the WTO waiver mechanism was included in the TRIPS agreement precisely for deployment in situations such as the pandemic, Hosny’s preferred approach is centred more on pragmatism.

Protecting intellectual property is critical, he emphasised, explaining that governments funded the development of COVID-19 vaccines with a significant amount of risk upfront.

He advocated a different solution towards achieving vaccine equity, explaining “If you are successful in creating a vaccine, that is then approved by the regulators, and we are giving advance purchase orders, a condition of the purchase agreement would be that you will provide vaccines at cost to low and middle income countries.”

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