Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 05 February 2018 – The 17th edition of Medlab Exhibition and Congress, the world’s largest laboratory event, was officially inaugurated today by His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of the Dubai Health Authority. For the second consecutive year as a standalone event Medlab 2018 is taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 5th – 8th February 2018. This year Medlab is set to welcome over 715 exhibitors and more than 25,000 attendees from over 130 countries.
Speaking at the opening, HE Humaid Al Qatami said, “Speaking at the opening ceremony, H.E. Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami, Chairman of the Dubai Health Authority, said: "The UAE, and Dubai specifically, are hosts to international summits, conferences and forums and have become the preferred international destination for leaders, experts, scientists and specialists. On this foundation, as well as tremendous potential that Dubai offers in hosting such important and specialised exhibitions, MEDLAB has gained its success.”
H.E. added: “Medlab is an important opportunity to learn about the best equipment and modern technologies in the field of medical laboratories, which is a major part of the healthcare system. The exhibition is also a scientific platform for the exchange of the successful international experiences and developments related to research and laboratory studies. The Dubai Health Authority pays attention to this, and expresses its interest to all developments aimed at upgrading services - diagnostic and therapeutic.”
With Medlab looking at bridging the gap between the laboratory and clinical settings, one of the key tracks on the first day of the congress was Oncology conference. The track, chaired by Dr. Maroun El Khoury, Consultant Oncologist/ Haematologist, American Hospital in Dubai, discussed key topics including non-medical oncology methods, radiation, surgical oncology, gynaecological oncology and prevention. It also highlighted the important role of diagnostic testing throughout a cancer patient's journey, thus providing an ideal platform for professionals of diverse subspecialties to exchange know-how on the advancements in the diagnosis, treatment and management of cancer.
Also of great interest was the Molecular Diagnostics Conference, chaired by Dr Mohammed Naveed, Consultant Geneticist, Department of Paediatrics, Fujairah Hospital. The track brought together a balance of industry and academia, giving delegates the unique opportunity to network with colleagues from different sectors and gain a fresh perspective on the various research and studies on molecular and non-molecular rapid diagnostic techniques as well as Next Generation Sequencing. The Medlab Congress 2018 merges research and clinical practice in the molecular diagnostics track, discussing current and future biomarkers, the most recent microarray and next-generation sequencing technologies and their applications in clinical practice introducing the next leap in healthcare.
One of the longest standing and most attended conferences on the first day of Medlab was Laboratory Management. The track provided its audience with a unique opportunity to understand the collaboration of administrative and medical leadership, as well as to exchange knowledge about the dynamics of quality management and safety improvement in medical laboratories of any size, scope or specialty.
The Obs-Gyne Exhibition and Congress was also launched today in collaboration with Medlab 2018 at the dedicated zone in Hall 1 and will run throughout all four days of Medlab. It will provide a platform for over 2,500 obstetricians, gynaecologists, fertility specialists and family physicians to gather alongside more than 60 of the industry's leading manufacturers, and exchange knowledge, share best practise and ultimately improve the level of patient care provided. Featuring four plenary tracks – General Obs-Gyne, Gyne-Oncology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Infertility – the congress, chaired by Dr. Saad Ghazal-Aswad, Senior Consultant Gynecological Oncologist, Chief of Gynecological Oncology Division & Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, will highlight the current health issues and challenges women are facing today.
Medlab also provides global and regional innovative healthcare companies with a forum to engage with their clients and partners, particularly those from the Middle East. This year’s diamond sponsor, Abbott Diagnostics, presented its latest innovations. The Alinity family from Abbott provides unprecedented, harmonised solutions to help laboratories face today’s challenges, engineered to simplify diagnostic testing by providing fast, quality and accurate results. From clinical chemistry and immunoassay, to blood screening, haematology, and point of care testing, Alinity instruments help laboratories deliver better patient care with fewer resources. In addition, Abbott has launched AlinIQ, which is a suite of professional services to help laboratories adapt to the changing healthcare landscape.
For more information about Medlab Exhibition and Congress 2018, please visit www.medlabme.com.
