HOSPITALS Magazine issue 45

Issue 45 / 150 MARCH-APRIL 2019

THE ARAB HOSPITAL APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE

DR. THUMBAY MOIDEEN FOUNDER PRESIDENT - THUMBAY GROUP

EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE & RESEARCH

became the core sectors of THUMBAY, a world-class business group

NEWS

Redefining the future of Healthcare, Education & Research

Well-equipped to serve a floating population of 20,000

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THUMBAY PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHABILITATION HOSPITAL +971 6 703 1555

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THUMBAY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL COMPLEX

• GULF MEDICAL UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE OF MEDICINE • COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY • COLLEGE OF PHARMACY • COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES • COLLEGE OF NURSING • COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS • DIGITAL LIBRARY • ADVANCED SIMULATION CENTRE • BLENDS & BREWS COFFEE SHOPPE • BODY & SOUL HEALTH CLUB & SPA • THUMBAY FOOD COURT • THUMBAY HOUSING PROJECT • THEATRE • FREE PARKING • PUBLIC BUS STATION • SUPERMARKET • ATM • SWIMMING POOL • THERAPEUTIC GARDEN • BASKETBALL COURT • TENNIS COURT

• THUMBAY PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHABILITATION HOSPITAL • THUMBAY DENTAL HOSPITAL • THUMBAY LABS • THUMBAY PHARMACY

• THUMBAY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR PRECISION MEDICINE (TRIPM) • THUMBAY INSTITUTE OF POPULATION HEALTH • RESEARCH CENTER

P.O - Box : 4184 - Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Email: info@thumbay.com, Web: www.thumbay.com

Publisher Arab Health Media Communication General Manager Simon Chammas schammas@tahmag.com

When Trust Becomes a Merit

Creative Department Roula Haddad - Georges Habka Creative Director: Jessy E. Hajj Photographer Hanna Nehme

As it promised its readers in 2018 and previous years, the “Arab Hospital” magazine promises again its readers, followers and success partners to be present at all Arab health events while remaining a great platform that enable healthcare professionals and specialists to communicate their opinions and health advice to the largest segment of people. And thus raise awareness of these life issues for the welfare and safety of society. In keeping with this approach and mission, the “Arab Hospital” magazine was awarded the “Distinguished Arab Health Magazine for 2019” last month during the 20th edition of the Arab Hospitals Federation, held in Cairo, Egypt, in line with the Arab Health Ministers Council. The magazine and its employees take pride in this trust as it is a testimony that it is on the right track. It is also a greater responsibility that will push us beyond our limits to always deliver the best content to our readers. Experience has taught us that we are successfully growing thanks to you, and without you we won’t be able to reap the fruits of our efforts, therefore, we promise you that leadership will remain our goal, serving a better human health and a safer society. This can only be achieved through strong cooperation and collaboration between all of entities of the health system. The Publisher

Copy Editor Jessica Achkar Editors Aline Debes, Mark Steven, Don Karn, Andrew Weichert, Colette Semaan, Abbas Moussa Advertising & Marketing advertising@tahmag.com Mirna Khayrallah mirna@tahmag.com Business Development Manager Ralph Rahal tahmag@tahmag.com Offices & Adresses AHMC, Lebanon Mansourieh High way, Jihad Wakim center, 3rd floor. T/F: +961 4 53 40 58 M: +961 3 60 61 00 tahmag@tahmag.com Simon Chammas schammas@tahmag.com Dubai Schammas@tahmag.com +967 50 2971007 KSA Elias Aramouni Business Dot Sulaimaniah Offices building • 2nd flr M: +966 55 1595 000 T: +966 11 4568282 F: +966 11 2253666 P.O. Box: 085092 Riyadh 11691 Printing

Distribution KSA - UAE - OMAN LEBANON - JORDAN SYRIA - KUWAIT BAHRAIN - QATAR - EGYPT

All rights reserved by the HOSPITALS magazine. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without prior permission in writting from the publisher.

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Thumbay Group 14 Interview with Dr. Thumbay Moideen 18 Building a unique, futuristic business model 19 Pursuing excellence in healthcare 20 Thumbay Medicity 22 Thumbay Hospitals & the Gulf Medical University 26 Gulf Medical University

94 56 Acibadem University 66 Carestream Awarded Best in KLAS 68 BD’s Culture of Safety at Arab Health 2019

INTERVIEWS 46 Dr. Timothy P. Crepe 50 Dr. Agim Beshiri 72 Sjaak Vink

NEWS 8 ACIBADEM HEALTHCARE GROUP TURKEY, A Lebanese child’s life saved by bone marrow transplantation 10 Healthcare UK looking to design, build and operate the Hospital of the Future in the Middle East 12 Medcare opens a new medical centre in Al Barsha 28 Peli BioThermal Exhibits at Arab Health in Dubai 30 Humanscale Announces Strategic Agreement with BD 32 Qatar Ranks 5th for Health in World, says International Think Tank 38 H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the DHA inaugurates new 150-bed Multi-Specialty Aster Hospital in Al Qusais 106 Fam International Family Medicine Conference 112 Orion Health & Abu Dhabi Health Data Services Announce Partnership

MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS 48 Early Detection and Response to Patient Deterioration in General Care

62 Sysmex solutions

FEATURES 76 Virtual Reality 80 Scoliosis 90 Breast Cancer 94 Recurrent Breast Cancer 96 Endometrial Adhesions 98 Cervical Cancer 100 Uterine Fibroids

ARTICLES 84 Job Satisfaction Among Healthcare Professionals

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS 44 Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 52 MedsBla

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NEWS

Department of Health and Etihad Airways sign MoU to promote Medical Tourism in Abu Dhabi boasts world-class tourism offerings and a solid healthcare infrastructure that enables the healthcare sector to continue providing the highest quality of services. In addition, it has enabled the sector to continue growing its medical tourism offerings in various specialties and subspecialties.”

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epartment of Health—Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines areas of joint cooperation to promote Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for medical tourism in the region. In the presence of H.E Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH, the MoU was signed by H.E. Mohamed Hamad Al Hameli, Undersecretary of Department of Health and Mr. Tony Douglas Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group. The agreement aims to bring about concerted efforts in facilitating all travel-related processes in order to ensure a comfortable and seamless

experience for patients flying to Abu Dhabi to seek world-class treatment. In addition, the collaboration will see both entities joining forces to promote the medical tourism sector in Abu Dhabi. H.E. Al Hameli commented: “We are delighted to continue working alongside our strategic partners at Etihad Airways to explore new avenues for mutual cooperation that supports our efforts to promote Abu Dhabi’s growing medical tourism sector. This cooperation aims to cement Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the leading destinations for medical tourism both regionally and globally as well as boost its global competitiveness. Abu Dhabi

Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad is intrinsically linked and aligned to Abu Dhabi and its vision of enhancing the tourism sector, in every form and at every opportunity. We are therefore delighted to now sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, which complements our already established Medical Tourism project.” In December 2018, the DoH and Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT) in collaboration with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the National Health Insurance Company, Daman, Eithad Airways and a number of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare facilities had launched the Abu Dhabi Medical Tourism e-portal that presents international patients with the variety of healthcare and tourism services they need to plan their trip and stay in Abu Dhabi.

New Healthcare Centre Opens in Ajman

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new health care centre was inaugurated by the Prime Health Care group in Ajman. The centre plans to cover the medical needs of Ajman and other Northern emirates’ residents and was inaugurated by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Ruler’s Representative for Administrative and Financial Affairs

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and Chairman of the Department of Economic Development Ajman and Hamad Obaid Taryam Al Shamsi, Director of Ajman Medical District. Prime Medical Centre in Ajman offers the advantage of a prominent location at the Grand Mall along Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street and is equipped with latest diagnostic and treatment

facilities and multi-specialty services offered by a team of highly-qualified and experienced doctors and trained staff. The center offers a wide array of specialities including paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology, general surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, ophthalmology, dental, ENT and physiotherapy.

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NEWS

ACIBADEM HEALTHCARE GROUP TURKEY A Lebanese child’s life saved by bone marrow transplantation sample from Rawan for tissue typing procedures in an accredited laboratory in Lebanon and that the tissue typing on the blood sample was followed by a search in the database of TÜRKKÖK, leading to positive results and discovery of a suitable donor.

Professor Öztürk has shared with us the following information on the transplantation process:

Rawan & Prof. Gülyüz Öztürk

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4-year-old Rawan Al Nazer from Lebanon, who has been suffering from thalassemia ever since she was born, started a brand new life with a bone marrow transplant operation after a suitable donor was found in Turkey. 14-year-old Rawan Al Nazer from Lebanon, who has been suffering from thalassemia (Mediterranean anemia) ever since she was born, greeted her new life in Turkey through a bone marrow transplant operation after a suitable donor was found in the country. Upon being diagnosed with Mediterranean anemia while she was only 6 months old, Rawan began going through a very difficult period. An application was made to the International Tissue Bank for Rawan, who had to undergo blood transfusion every two weeks, but the search did not yield positive results.

Finding a donor was a big surprise Just when Rawan had been driven to despair, she met Professor Gülyüz Öztürk, the head of the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital who was visiting Lebanon for a congress, and her hopes were reignited. This was because a Turkish bone marrow donor was found for Rawan.

“STEM CELLS ARE DELIVERED TO THE HEART VIA A CATHETER” Professor Gülyüz Öztürk states that they took a blood

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“Starting with a preparation stage, the bone marrow transplantation procedures proceeded with insertion of a catheter. We first tried to “reset” the bone marrow, which gave faulty output, through chemotherapy. In other words, we formed a settling and reproduction site for the bone marrow we would introduce. Beginning from -13 and moving towards 0, we then continued administering chemotherapy and preparatory medications as if bombarding the bone marrow and transfused the bone marrow stem cells of the donor to the patient on day 0. This transfusion is never in the form of simply opening up the bone and administering the stem cells to it; we deliver the cells directly to the heart through a catheter. As the heart continues to pump blood, the stem cells are distributed throughout the body.”

“THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE A SIGN THAT THE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT IS WINNING” Professor Öztürk states that they did not come across any important problems for 7 days after the transplant and that the stem cells, which settled well between the 7th and 14th days, started to reproduce more and more. Noting that they took another bone marrow sample from Rawan on the 28th day, Öztürk said the following: “The stem cells we detected in Rawan’s tissue were 100% those of the donor. Thankfully, we had no problems at all. We were able to send Rawan back home in the 6th month. Öztürk states that they established a connection with the doctor following up on Rawan in Beirut.

“MY DAUGHTER WAS GIVEN A NEW LIFE” Walid Al Nazer, Rawan’s father, stated that he met Professor Gülyüz Öztürk at the congress upon recommendation from Rawan’s doctor and continued as follows: “We were very happy to find out that we had the chance to find a donor in Turkey. If we had known about this earlier, we would have come to Turkey sooner. My daughter was given a new life. I cannot possibly express how I feel.”

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NEWS

Healthcare UK looking to design, build and operate the Hospital of the Future in the Middle East

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ealthcare UK was seeking to secure partnerships with public health authorities and private healthcare operators, to deliver British expertise in designing, building and operating the Hospital of the Future in the Middle East. Meetings were held to explore potential partnerships at Arab Health, the largest healthcare exhibition in the GCC, that took place from 28th - 31st January in Dubai. The Healthcare UK team was inviting interested parties to book private meetings. In those meetings, parties discussed the UK’s 70+ years’ experience of delivering universal healthcare, free at the point of care, at a system-level and how that could support the Middle East in meeting its health transformation objectives. The Healthcare UK team also had access to the UK’s leaders in robotics, digital and AI.

Healthcare UK Managing Director, Deborah Kobewka, described Healthcare UK’s expertise and appetite for collaboration in the Middle East: “In the Middle East, the healthcare sector is experiencing rapid development. A readiness to forge partnerships with leading healthcare institutions around the world, along with a willingness to adopt new ideas and bring them to fruition, is paying dividends. “The bold programme of healthcare development underway in the Middle East is facilitating and leveraging new partnerships with UK healthcare organisations and providers. After all, where better to come for support in developing a healthcare system than the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) which, since its inception in 1948, has ensured universal access to high-quality health-

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care, based on clinical need and not ability to pay? “The challenges faced today by the Middle East in developing universal, sustainable healthcare systems are the same challenges the NHS has been using its decades of experience to address in the UK. For good reason, NHS expertise is in demand all over the world.” Partnerships explored during the meetings built on previous work by Healthcare UK and its partners, including Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was the oldest, and one of the largest, centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world. More than 200 years after its foundation in 1804, Moorfields moved beyond the United Kingdom to open Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in 2007. The Moorfields international operating model – developed over the last 11 years in the United Arab Emirates – incorporates teaching and research, as well as consultant-led clinical care. Moorfields Dubai provides day case surgery and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services for most surgical and non-surgical eye conditions, equivalent to that available at the UK main sites. Moorfields Dubai has treated more than 180,000 patients over the 11 years, from over 185 countries, and has quickly become one of the GCC’s leading eye care institutions. Its success led to further expansion in the UAE with the opening of Moorfields Eye Hospital Centre in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with United Eastern Medical Services, and Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital in Dubai, where Moorfields Dubai now conducts complex paediatric ophthalmology

surgeries. Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai is owned and managed by the NHS Foundation Trust and maintains close links with London, enabling patients in the GCC to receive the best and up-to-date eye care treatment in the world. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust continues to deliver exceptional patient experience through utilising pioneering technologies, which will benefit patients in the UK and ultimately those being treated through the Moorfields partnership model in the Middle East. Dr Ben Maruthappu, co-founder of the NHS Innovation Accelerator and leading physician, entrepreneur and technologist, shared his views on AI, robotics and digital in healthcare – and their place in the Hospital of the Future: “The UK’s NHS is transforming provision in the healthcare sector - in a way that other industries such as retail, travel and banking have already undergone – and will continue to do so. The opportunities offered by technology to innovate in healthcare across personalised medicine, digital and data, devices and wearables are being further brought together to create scalable, accessible and sustainable healthcare. “The opportunities for collaboration across global markets are huge, creating true healthcare advancements to deliver care on demand to our populations. Pioneering governments are already taking the right steps towards creating systems that can deliver improved health outcomes at a lower cost, with greater convenience and a better experience for patients. “Ultimately, the Hospital of the Future is about using technology to create a new transformative roadmap for healthcare”.

An upstart on the global stage. A consistent leader in the U.S. We know children deserve the best possible care, in a safe and welcoming environment. Here in Columbus, Ohio, we have it all: world-class cultural attractions, cuisine and entertainment and — most importantly — pediatric specialty care that makes us a leading destination for patients from around the world. Our innovative research and dedicated health care team develop internationally recognized programs. From hosting a worldwide clinical trial consortium for childhood neuroblastoma to renowned gene therapy research aimed at making neuromuscular disorders a thing of the past, we aim to provide the highest level of expertise and care for our patients. Reach out to our Global Patient Services team to learn more about our unique combination of a welcoming city and remarkable care. Learn more, refer a patient or plan a trip: NationwideChildrens.org/Global-Patient-Services GlobalPatientServices@NationwideChildrens.org +1 614 362 9127 Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio - USA

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NEWS

Medcare opens a new medical centre in Al Barsha Range of health care services

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new medical centre from Medcare was recently launched at Al Barsha by Dr Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) formally in the presence of Andre Daoud, Group CEO of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres. The premium medical Centre is equipped with a team of renowned doctors and health care professionals who aim to provide individualised care to meet the needs of the local community and will cover a wide range of health care specialities including family medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics & gynaecology, ENT, dentistry, dermatology, orthopaedics and physiotherapy. “Medcare is a pioneering health care provider in the region and our centres often the first point of contact for many patients, who are then passed through well-planned referral networks to hospitals for specialist care who can respond more efficiently to the populations health needs” said Andre Daoud.

Arabian ethicals supports international women’s day MORE WOMEN TOUCHING LIVES UAE Vision 2021 to achieve worldclass healthcare for everyone, with a team that represents all cultures and genders. We cannot change the world, but we can make it a better place with every lady we hire!”

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rabian Ethicals, a leading distributor of pharmaceutical brands in UAE and the Gulf region has shown their support for the international drive for gender equality in the workplace with a promising gesture of their own. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and the race is on to build a more gender-balanced world. #BalanceforBetter As a proud supporter of the happy occasion that is Inter-

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national Women’s Day 2019 - 8th of March, Arabian Ethicals was delighted to publically commit to the diversification of their workforce with a promise to double the number of women in their team by the end of 2020. General Manager Stephan Stauffer has set the benchmark at 25, more than double the number of 12 women out of 100 people currently working in offices and distribution centers across in the country. “Of course it’s by no means a limit, it’s just a start! Arabian Ethicals stands by our commitment to supporting the

Along with gender equity, the company is also working hard to be more inclusive of local talent with a continuous hire-drive seeking out Emirati personnel to fill positions in every level of the business. The day provides an important and exciting opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness, and reinforce commitment to diversity and inclusion. To prepare for the event, the ladies of Arabian Ethicals team gathered together in front of the Burj Khalifah to show their support and welcome potential talent into the company. Arabian Ethicals currently employs people from 16 countries, speaking more than ten different languages with ages ranging from 28 years to 60. One might say they’re already ahead of the game.

NEWS

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Tel: 1.800.670.3924 Email: International@stlukeshealth.org StLukesInternational.org Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas – U.S.A.

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center 13

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

THUMBAY GROUP’S SUCCESS STORIES IN MEDICAL, EDUCATION, STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTHCARE AND CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH. Thumbay hospitals and clinics feature the latest technological innovations in patient services, diagnosis and treatment. “Hospitals” magazine met Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President-Thumbay Group who talked about the various services of the Group. Let’s introduce our readers to the various services offered by Thumbay Group? Thumbay Group is a diversified conglomerate with global presence, operating multiple brands across 20 sectors of business including in Education, Healthcare, Medical Research, Diagnostics, Retail Pharmacy, Health Communications, Retail Opticals, Wellness, Nutrition Stores, Hospitality, Real Estate, Publishing, Technology, Media, Events, Medical Tourism, Trading and Marketing & Distribution. In addition to the various Emirates of the UAE, the Group now has presence in Africa and India, with upcoming projects in Europe.

Since 1998, the Group has expanded enormously. Can you give us an idea about your journey? Thumbay Group was established in the UAE in 1998, as a single entity company. Gulf Medical University (GMU) was Thumbay Group’s first venture. The need to take care of the clinical training requirements of GMU led our foray into healthcare, and we established the first private academic hospital in the country, Thumbay Hospital – Ajman, in 2002. This was followed by the establishment of a network of academic hospitals and clinics under the healthcare

division. A state-of-the-art research facility was also set up at GMU. Education, Healthcare & Research became the core sectors of Thumbay Group. Subsequently, the Group started diversification, mostly venturing into areas related to its core sectors. The healthcare sector, in particular, flourished with more hospitals, clinics and day care hospitals. Outside of the UAE, Thumbay Group established an academic hospital, pharmacies and diagnostic labs as well as an outlet of Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe in Hyderabad, India. Educational/healthcare projects are at various stages of completion at various countries in Africa and Europe. Today, the Group employs over 5000 people.

What about the state-of-theart technologies, experienced medical caregivers and premium facilities offered to the patients? State-of-the-art technology and professional expertise are the mainstays of Thumbay Group’s healthcare division. Thumbay hospitals and clinics feature the latest technological innovations in patient services, diagnosis and treatment. A case in example is the Thumbay University Hospital at Thumbay Medicity, Ajman. The hospital features a first-of-its-kind special robotic pharmacy and a radiology department with PET-CT scan.

Every Thumbay Hospital has a ‘Marhaba Lounge’ where patients can avail premium, fast-tracked services. The healthcare division also operates Thumbay Clinic ELITE, providing premium services. An advantage of Thumbay hospitals in terms of professional expertise is that most of the doctors are also academicians and researchers closely associated with GMU in teaching and research, hence always staying updated with the latest developments in healthcare.

What about the world-class medical services offered to your patients? Thumbay hospitals aim to provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs. We have built a strong reputation in terms of services, expertise and world-class care that we receive medical tourists from as far away as Africa, Southern Europe and the Western hemisphere, in addition to patients from the Middle East. Thumbay Group’s medical tourism company, Thumbay Medical Tourism (TMT) offers customized packages for medical tourists, taking care of everything right from the moment they decide to visit one of our hospitals. TMT now has representative offices in 87 countries.

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INTERVIEWS

Thumbay Group believes that innovation is the key to growth. What are your future strategies and vision for shaping up the future? Thumbay Group considers innovation a part of our corporate culture. Innovation helps us stay dynamic and vibrant, and is the driving force behind our growth. Our culture of innovation permeates each department and employee, helping us achieve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Your history is rich in awards and achievements. Can you brief us about them? What do they add to your reputation? Thumbay Group as well as its constituent companies have won several awards and recognitions at the global and national levels, including the Dubai Quality Appreciation Award, Dubai Human Development Appreciation Award, Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award etc. GMU has won awards internationally for the quality of its teaching, training and academic superiority. Thumbay hospitals have won international recognitions for medical tourism and for quality healthcare. All our awards and achievements motivate us to further improve our quality standards. We take pride in our achievements as each reassures us that we are progressing in the right direction. Moreover, they help in consolidating the trust and confidence of our clientele.

Lately, Thumbay Group announces the inauguration of Thumbay Medicity, located in Ajman. What is the added value of such a

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project for the private sector in the region? Built with an investment of over a billion Dirhams, this is the first project of its kind in the UAE’s private sector. Thumbay Medicity combines advanced facilities in education, healthcare, research, leisure, luxury, fitness, entertainment. With quaternary care facilities, the Thumbay University Hospital will be a referral hospital having unique inpatient services, in addition to 120+ clinics. This is in addition to other specialized hospitals in the Medicity; the Thumbay Dental Hospital and the Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital.

“THUMBAY GROUP HAS PLANS TO GO PUBLIC BY 2023.” What is your occupancy capacity? Thumbay University Hospital will have a total capacity of 500 beds, with 350 bed capacity in the first phase of development. The hospital will have 50 dedicated beds for the rehabilitation hospital, and will feature a therapeutic garden. Thumbay Medicity is well-equipped to serve a floating population of 20,000+.

What about the group global expansion? We follow a strategic vision plan according to which Thumbay Group aims to scale up our businesses at least ten times and establish global presence, increasing the employee strength to 25,000 by the year 2023. Other objectives include: • The Thumbay academic hos-

pital network will have a total of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and Africa by 2023. • GMU is soon to add Engineering and Management courses. • Plans are afoot to open three new University campuses across 3 different countries. • To add 25 Thumbay labs, 100 Thumbay pharmacies, 40 Zo & Mo Opticals outlets, 100 Blends & Brews coffee shops, 25 Body & Soul health clubs, 50 Nutri Plus Vita stores. Thumbay Group has plans to go public by 2023. In addition to our new and upcoming healthcare projects in different parts of the world, we are also keen to acquire existing hospitals, either on long-term lease or on management basis.

After this long experience in healthcare, how do u evaluate the sector in UAE? The UAE has a robust healthcare sector, with the visionary leadership of the country actively promoting innovation and advancements in healthcare. Healthcare is one of the focus areas of the Government’s Vision 2021 startegic plans, signifying the importance of the sector. Recent government reforms like long-term visas for professionals and investors as well as the mandatory health insurance of the Dubai Government are progressive steps in healthcare. The government is keen to ensure the health and well-being of its residents.

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Undergraduate Programs • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery • Doctor of Dental Medicine • Doctor of Pharmacy • Bachelor of Physiotherapy • Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics

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Graduate Programs • Joint Masters in Health Professions Education with FAIMER, United States and CenMEDIC, United Kingdom • Master in Public Health in collaboration with The University of Arizona, United States • Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics • Master in Clinical Pharmacy with Virginia Commonwealth University, United States & Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi • Master of Dental Surgery (Endodontics) • Master of Dental Surgery (Periodontics) • Master of Physical Therapy • Master in Environmental Health & Toxicology

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Building a unique, futuristic business model Dr. Thumbay Moideen’s passion for building state-of-the-art healthcare facilities with a strong focus on research and medical education drives the growth and success of Thumbay Group Thumbay academic hospital network will have a total of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds in the Gulf and Africa by 2023, in addition to establishing three new University campuses in different countries. “We are working with the UAE authorities to make it an indispensable hub for healthcare tourism in the region. Our healthcare pattern differentiates from others. It is comprehensive, innovative and more so indigenous,” Dr. Thumbay remarked. “The UAE brings in brands as a model of excellence. We will be the only locally born. Our overseas expansion plans are a pride for the UAE.” He says the focus is on medical tourism, to attract patients from Africa, Iran, India, Bangladesh and elsewhere in the region.”

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r. Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Thumbay Group, believes in articulating his views for a broader perspective for all, and that too in a humble manner. Creating a state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure is his dream, and he sets no instant hallmarks as he built the UAE’s first local medical university and healthcare facilities known for their meticulous services.

professional research. No one can match us. Though we may not be as big as others, we are invincible.” He says the UAE is an amazing country, and one which is full of opportunities for all. “At Thumbay we are busy erecting an effective and reliable network of healthcare services ranging from hospitals to clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, where patients can repose their trust.”

Dr. Thumbay says, “We stand apart as we dispense medical services, and are one of the best. We are involved in a whole range of healthcare-related issues comprising from treating patients to teaching doctors and indulging in

For Dr. Thumbay sky is the limit, as he keeps himself engrossed with developmental issues, and envisages them in a manner that is top-notch when it comes to competition. According to Thumbay Group’s strategic plans, the

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Dr. Thumbay talks about his ‘MediCity’ in Ajman, where more than 20,000 people will always be around, as it caters to general public with a medical university campus, housing facilities for staff, faculty and students, as well as a hospital and other medicare accessories. Thumbay Medicity has a total area of 1 million sq.ft. and a built-up area of 1.1 million sq.ft. When asked how and what kind of role he plays, a modest Dr. Thumbay says, “I’m just a facilitator, my goal is to see success achieved and the lofty objectives we have set are met. I have a great team, and they are good leaders in their individual capacity. We brainstorm on a regular basis, and I try to facilitate things at my end. It goes without saying that the project is close to my heart.”

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Pursuing excellence in healthcare Delivering superior healthcare services that is automated in essence is at the center of Akbar Moideen Thumbay’s outlook

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kbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice-President Healthcare Division and Board Member Thumbay Group, is exceptionally articulate as he spells out his workaholic agenda for a second-to-none future for Thumbay. He looks after one of the fastest growing networks of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories in the region, which is proudly part of the only private academic hospital in the UAE. “The only teaching hospital of the UAE is our signature identity, and we pride in it. Our doctors not only treat patients, but also teach and indulge in professional excellence through research activity at the Gulf Medical University.” Having started with one medical facility in Ajman in 2002, Thumbay has come a long way. He defines the theme as a ‘Unitary Hospital’ equipped with services such as dentistry, rehabilitation, home care, etc. Akbar Moideen pointed out that promoting medical tourism is Thumbay’s destiny. “Our representative offices are in 87 countries to promote UAE as the hub for healthcare and medical tourism. Presently, we are attracting an average of more than 10 international patients daily, whereas the gigantic target is 1,000 patients per day.” The vice-president highlighted the factors that are graciously leading to potential healthcare system in the UAE, such as mandatory health insurance in Dubai, which will soon also be a must in Northern Emirates. Moreover, the

government’s largesse in visa issuance for international patients in a couple of hours has buoyed medical tourism. When asked as to how Thumbay has made inroads, he says: “Access of people to Thumbay is increasing. We are connecting the world to the UAE, and this is the biggest difference that Thumbay has accomplished in medical tourism.” Akbar says technology is the key to success and innovation, and at Thumbay special efforts have been made to enrich the services by making use of artificial intelligence, and inducting appropriate modern technology. “We have the most hi-tech MRIs, Pet Scan, and will soon have a robotic pharmacy,

as well as laboratories where samples can be tested in two minutes.” He says the whole data infrastructure shall be linked, which will enable better diagnosis for health professionals by making use of automation, latest inventions in medicine and pharmacy. “Our entire network shall be based on a single ID format. Moreover, we have a company catering to the latest technology for Thumbay; and the concept is to become a paperless hospital. The goal is to achieve HIMSS level of 7.” The Thumbay University Hospital had 50 dedicated beds for physical therapy and rehabilitation, and an innovative therapeutic garden to help healing in a unique way.

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Thumbay Medicity Redefining the Standards of Education, Healthcare, Research

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humbay Group’s success stories in its core sectors of medical education, healthcare and research have given shape to the ‘Thumbay Medicity’ in the UAE to serve 20,000+ people daily, with advanced facilities in education, healthcare, research, leisure, luxury, fitness, entertainment, etc., built with an investment of over a billion Dirhams. A regional hub of futuristic medical education, state-of-the-art healthcare and cutting-edge research, Thumbay Medicity is one of the latest additions to the UAE’s healthcare sector; the first such project in the private sector. Located in Ajman, Thumbay Medicity features advanced technology and global expertise, and will officially be inaugurated soon. Thumbay Medicity houses the Gulf Medical University, Thumbay University Hospital, Thumbay Dental Hospital and Thumbay Physical Therapy and

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Rehabilitation Hospital and outlets of Thumbay Pharmacy and Thumbay Labs, in addition to Body & Soul Health Club and Spa, Thumbay Food Court, The Terrace Restaurant, Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, and the Thumbay Housing Project to accommodate 2500 staff and students.

Gulf Medical University The biggest private medical university in the region with 6 colleges and 25 accredited programs: Ranked among the top 50 medical universities in the region, GMU boasts advanced training/teaching facilities, international collaborations with more than 60 partner universities worldwide and a full-fledged academic health system.

Thumbay University Hospital The biggest private academic hospital in the region: A state-of-the-art, purpose-built 500-bed smart facility offering quaternary care facilities, with over 120 clinics, a first-of-its-kind

special robotic pharmacy and a radiology department with PET-CT scan.

Thumbay Dental Hospital The biggest academic dental hospital in the region: Attached to the College of Dentistry, GMU, the hospital has 60 dental chairs. Specializations include General Dentistry, Endodontics, Paedodontics, Periodontics, Invisalign, Veneers & Lumineers, Dentures, Crowns and Bridges, Simple & Complicated Extractions and Hollywood Smile and a dedicated CSSD for Infection Control. Upcoming facilities include stem cell treatment for dental diseases, and an advanced ‘Dental Stem Cell Bank’.

Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital The biggest state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital in the country, the hospital features advanced technology like Zero-gravity Treadmill, Wearable Technologies, Hydrotherapy Pool, Neuropsychology, Advanced Robotics,

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Hi-Performance Training Gym, Driving Simulation, Full Body Cryotherapy Chamber, Applied Virtual Reality, Speech Therapy, etc. Operating in collaboration with internationally renowned Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Italy, it is attached to Thumbay University Hospital, having 50 dedicated beds. It has a unique ‘Therapeutic Garden’, for faster, holistic recovery.

immunogenicity; and biomarkers and functional genomics.

Thumbay Labs The largest network of CAP-accredited private diagnostic labs in the region with international presence: Thumbay Medicity houses the central reference lab of Thumbay Labs, with state-of-the-art facilities for Neonatal Screening, Next Generation Sequencing and Genomics.

Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine

Thumbay Pharmacy

Leading research in cancer biology and immunology: Collaborating internationally with France, Poland and Korea, the institute has three ongoing research programs: cancer immunology and experimental oncology; tumor genetic instability and

One of the fastest-growing retail pharmacy chains in the UAE with international presence: A full-fledged Thumbay Pharmacy outlet is operational at Thumbay Medicity. The pharmacy chain has tied up with GMU for training and employment of the students of the

College of Pharmacy, GMU. “Thumbay Medicity, with an investment of more than a billion UAE Dirhams, is the result of our continued efforts to bring the best of healthcare to the region, making it a hub of world class healthcare with state-of-the-art technology, experienced medical practitioners and superior facilities. As one of the most sophisticated medical cities in the region, Thumbay Medicity offers end-to-end tertiary and quaternary healthcare services to patients, with improved access by way of strategic location and affordability,” said Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group. Having a total area of 1 million sq.ft. and built-up area of 1.2 million sq.ft., Thumbay Medicity will serve 20,000+ people daily.

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Thumbay Hospitals & the Gulf Medical University are rapidly emerging as the healthcare & education icons of the future

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humbay is, undoubtedly, emerging as the trusted name when it comes to healthcare. Its services are in pursuit of excellence and, moreover, its infrastructure is one of the best in the UAE. There are numerous achievements that the Thumbay Group has attained in the healthcare sector, including the first private medical university in the region, the Gulf Medical University (GMU). The GMU is a success story in itself, and could not have been possible without the dynamic and selfless leadership of Dr. Thumbay Moideen. Last but not the least, state-of-the-art equipment, accomplished professionals and the spirit to lead from the front has made it invincible.

Dr. Thumbay became the bastion of change for the emirate of Ajman and the UAE in the health sector, and his vision has won it an undeniable edge in the entire region, as Thumbay healthcare services go from strength to strength. Thumbay today has the largest network of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, spread across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah in the UAE as well as in Uganda and India. The numbers are growing

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further, in accordance with the Group’s strategic plans. Upcoming hospitals in Oman, Qatar, Africa and Europe, in addition to more hospitals in the UAE and India are at various stages of completion. The point to cheer is that the GMU’s Academic Healthcare System links the healthcare, medical education and research functions on its own, and is proudly indigenous in essence. The UAE is proud to boast Thumbay and GMU as the locally inculcated icons of healthcare in the 21st century, and

are part of worldwide research and innovation by virtue of its accreditation and affiliation with the who’s who in medicare. Thumbay enjoys JCI accreditation for its hospitals, CAP-accredited laboratories as well as multiple prestigious acknowledgments from world’s reputed research and healthcare institutions. It is no secret that Thumbay has made inroads not only in the UAE as a preferred and reliable healthcare

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system, but is also valued across the region, where it is busy imprinting its mark. Thumbay is not merely a hospital or a clinic facility where you are treated, but a valued umbrella of health system that devotes its synergies for the betterment of medicine and professionals, and has a roadmap for quality medical education and comprehensive clinical care. Thumbay as a matter of concept while delivering health services, as well as imparting education to its medical students and researchers, looks at the whole spectrum as an ‘industry’. An aspect that is

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interrelated and one which is intended to respond to the needs and necessities of the future. The investment that Thumbay Group has done in the healthcare sector is future-oriented, as is merely not intended for timely patient-satisfaction. Rather, it has a complete roadmap for developing future health professionals, erecting a sound infrastructure and making research and innovation as the pinnacle of its manifesto as it goes on to serve the UAE, the region and beyond. While GMU’s popularity is mainly on account of its futuristic curriculum, excellent training facilities, expert faculty and international collaborations, GMU students have the added

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advantage of being given priority for employment by Thumbay Group’s hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, labs etc.

Corporate Social Responsibility Even as it pursues an ambitious expansion plan, Thumbay Group is at the forefront of giving back to the society, through its CSR activities. The chairman of Thumbay Group’s CSR Committee is Mr. Akram Moideen Thumbay - Director Operations of the Construction & Renovation Division, Director of Thumbay Technologies and Member of Thumbay Group Board. The Group has been conducting several free health camps benefiting

people across the various segments of the society, touching the lives of the needy and spreading the message of healthy living. The Thumbay Foundation was formed as a charitable arm established to support charitable activities in Healthcare, Education and other areas for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society. Thumbay Foundation provides funds and support by the provision of scholarships, grants, bursaries, awards, fellowships, endowments, donations and other forms of financial assistance to students pursuing any level of education or training in any educational or training institution or establishment. The ‘Sponsor a Medical Profession-

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al’ program of GMU provides a global platform for corporates, philanthropists, service organizations, non-governmental organizations and agencies of the State to contribute their might in resolving the dearth of medical professionals all over the world. It is an opportunity to develop a global partnership for health development. Some other initiatives include: the ‘Go Green’ Initiative, the ‘Happiness Hour’ initiative launched in 2018 in line with the UAE government’s ‘Year of Happiness’, free medical checkup programs for various professional groups, ‘Share a Meal’ program under Terrace Restaurants, ‘Coffee on the Wall’ initiative under Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, and various other corporate events focusing on fitness, awareness, sharing etc.

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Gulf Medical University The Medical University of the Future

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tate-of-the-art training/teaching facilities, international collaborations and recognitions, a full-fledged academic system and new launched programs and colleges have consolidated GMU’s reputation as the most in-demand medical university in the region for cutting-edge medical education, attracting student applications in large numbers to various courses for the upcoming academic year. Gulf Medical University – Ajman, one of the most popular medical education destinations in the Gulf region, has emerged as the biggest

Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor, Gulf Medical University

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private medical university in the region with the addition of new programs, prestigious regional and international collaborations, multiple global accreditations, increasing student numbers and and its transformation into the region’s only private Academic Health System.

Bachelors & Masters Programs Gulf Medical University six colleges and 26 accredited programs. The undergraduate programs include: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of

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Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics, Associate Degree in Pre-Clinical Sciences, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Bachelor of Science - Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science - Medical Imaging Sciences, Bachelor of Science - Anesthesia Technology and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Masters programs include: Joint Masters in Health Professions Education with FAIMER, United States and CenMEDIC, United Kingdom; Master in Public Health in collaboration with The University of Arizona, United States; Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics; Master in Clinical Pharmacy with Virginia Commonwealth University, United States & Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi; Master of Dental Surgery (Endodontics); Master of Dental Surgery (Periodontics); Master of Physical Therapy; and Master in Environmental Health & Toxicology.

International Collaborations GMU enjoys a robust collaboration with 60+ prestigious universities around the world, such as the University of Arizona, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee - USA, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy in Connecticut, German Heidelberg University, American University in Cairo, University of Ghana, Medical University of Lublin, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, etc., as well as research institutes such as the Gustave Rossi Cancer Research Institute – France.

Advanced teaching/training technologies An important aspect that differentiates GMU is its use of the latest technologies in teaching and training

students across all majors, to ensure their workplace readiness once they graduate. One of the most prominent uses of technology in teaching is the Virtual Patient Learning (VPL), a simulation program that enables medical students to diagnose, treat and observe a patient’s progress, based on Artificial Intelligence technology.

Academic Health System The Gulf Medical University Academic Health System (GMUAHS) links the healthcare, medical education and research functions on its own. Part of GMUAHS are the Thumbay Hospitals and Thumbay Clinics operated by the healthcare division of Thumbay Group at multiple locations in Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, as well Thumbay Hospital – Hyderabad. The latest additions to the GMU Academic Health System include Thumbay Dental Hospital - the first private dental hospital in the country and the largest academic dental hospital in the Middle East region’s private sector, as well as Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital - the biggest and most advanced hospital for physical therapy and rehabilitation, the recent additions to Thumbay Group’s academic hospitals.

Research Research is an important strategic direction of GMUAHS. The Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine leads research in the field of cancer biology and immunology, with international collaboration with France, Poland and Korea. In terms of advancing healthcare in the UAE and globally, GMU has launched three medical researches: Cancer Immunology and experimental oncology; Tumor genetic

instability and immunogenicity; and biomarkers and functional genomics.

Futuristic Medical Education “The Gulf Medical University is the medical university of the future,” says Prof. Hossam Hamdy, the Chancellor of GMU. GMU aspires to transform into a research-based university by 2025,” adds Prof. Hossam Hamdy. GMU attracts students from new countries each year, and the University’s student community is approximately 2000-strong today, hailing from more than 80 countries. The student population is growing every year. The well-organized alumni network has professionals pursuing successful medical and healthcare careers around the world. Furthermore, the growing stature of Gulf Medical University is evident from the regional and international recognitions it continues to receive. In 2017, GMU was ranked among the top 50 medical universities in the Middle East, and bagged Gold at the prestigious Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards, 2018. GMU also secured top positions in e-learning regionally and globally at the Wharton QS-Stars Reimagine Education Conference & Awards 2018 in the USA, in addition to obtaining 5 stars in teaching and community engagement by QS. The University also received the prestigious Dubai Quality Appreciation Award this year, for the 2017 assessment cycle. With the new developments, Gulf Medical University (GMU) has been witnessing an unprecedented demand for admissions, attracting top students from different parts of the world desirous of pursuing futuristic medical education.

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NEWS

Peli BioThermal Exhibits at Arab Health in Dubai Collaboration with new global distributor as company significantly expands its presence in the Middle East to meet regional temperature challenges in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) projected to reach US$104.6 billion by 2022, this region is a significant key growth area for Peli BioThermal, where our superior systems and products provide protection for pharma payloads in a region renowned for its temperature challenges. The show’s substantial size allows us to showcase our shipper solutions and services to thousands of delegates, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the region and collective capabilities to meet customers’ increasing requirements in this area.”

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eli BioThermal, the global name in temperature controlled packaging, is exhibiting its award-winning shipper solutions and services at Arab Health for the first time as the company increases its infrastructure and operations in the Middle East. Taking centre stage was the innovative CoolPall™ Flex system, which provides a unique, customisable range offering optimised solutions. An additional benefit significant to this area, is that CoolPall™ Flex provides excellent payload efficiency on aircraft with more constrained cargo spaces operating in this region. Also being exhibited was Crēdo™ Cargo, Peli BioThermal’s leading temperature controlled container available from its rapidly expanding Crēdo™ on Demand rental program, providing protection of life sciences

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and pharmaceutical payloads transported globally. Peli BioThermal was exhibiting alongside its distributor partner, Cold Chain Packing, at stand H7, G16 in the British Pavillion, Hall 7 at Arab Health, one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the world. Being held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 28 – 31 January 2019, over 160 countries were represented with more than 4,150 companies exhibiting to over 84,500 attendees. Director of Sales EMEA at Peli BioThermal, Paul Terry, said: “We are pleased to present our high-performing products and services at Arab Health alongside Saudi Arabia based Cold Chain Packing. Together we will be sharing our collective industry insight, knowledge and extensive expertise”. “With healthcare expenditure

Visitors to their stand were able to discuss products, rental programs and other services available in the region with experts from the Peli BioThermal team, who were on hand to present the company’s core product portfolio of single and reusable systems including Crēdo™ Cargo, Crēdo™ Cube, Crēdo™ ProMed, Chronos™ Advance and Chronos™ Express. Visit www.pelibiothermal.com to learn more about the wide range of Peli BioThermal products and offerings.

360 care around you

Early Mobilization with LINET Improve Early Mobility in your unit

Level 1

Many ICU patients suffer from orthostatic hypotension. This hemodynamic instability may cause a delay in turning and repositioning, and may contribute to the formation of pressure ulcers and higher risk of VAP. Micro-shifting and Automatic Lateral Therapy can assist in reducing these complications.

Level 2

Immobile ICU patients can experience trunk or core weakness, reducing their ability to support themselves in an upright position. The full chair and reverse Trendelenburg positions help with muscle strengthening exercises as well as hemodynamic and orthostatic training.

Level 3

Sitting on the side of the bed is an important part of the mobilization process. It can help to assess muscle strength and hemodynamic stability before ambulating patients.

Join us at booth #S1.G30

Level 4

On average, there is a 2–3% daily loss of muscle mass over the first 10 days. The Mobi-LiftŽ and Lateral Tilt provide safe and effective support in mobilization. This may help to prevent an adverse event such as orthostatic hypotension or patient falls.

www.linet.ae

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Humanscale Announces Strategic Agreement with BD to Increase Medication Management and Access Through Systems Integration for Better Patient Care will be available in Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and New Zealand. The MedSync Mobile Technology Cart is specifically designed to integrate with BD Pyxis™ ES System to create a fully closed-loopmedication system. The combination of these two cutting-edge solutions will greatly improve patient safety by automatically assigning a medication drawer to a patient and increasing overall accountability by assuring that every event in the medication transportation workflow is accurately recorded. The Journal of Evaluation of Clinical Practice noted in a May 2014 article that a one year study undertaken in France concluded the use of automated drug dispensing units reduced the overall rate of medical administration errors by 53%.

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umanscale, the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products, announced a strategic agreement with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, to further optimize the medication management process for the pharmacy and nursing industries. By securing medication delivery via a mobile medication cart, the integration will improve patient safety and enhance clinical workflows. The solution was showcased for the first time at Arab Health 2019 and

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“With the expanded ability to manage and deliver medication by the bedside, BD can now provide a more comprehensive integrated solution for medication management in markets where mobile carts are part of the clinical workflow,” said Jason Strohm, worldwide Vice President and General Manager of Dispensing and Preparation Technologies for BD. “As part of our purpose of advancing the world of health, we strive to provide healthcare workers with the solutions required to provide timely and safe care to their patients. Through this partnership, we are delivering a solution that will help our customers focus on patient safety, reducing

medication errors and streamlining workflows. The Humanscale MedSync Mobile Technology Cart is an innovative medication delivery solution that streamlines complex nursing workflows and complements bedside medication administration to reduce errors and improve outcomes in healthcare environments. The system assists caregivers in keeping track of patients and patient medications to ensure secure administration, while aiding pharmacy efficiency and compliance. The BD Pyxis™ ES System optimizes medication management and timely administration by delivering the right drug, in the right dose, at the right time, to the right patient. The streamlined secure workflow integration between BD Pyxis™ ES System and Humanscale MedSync reduces the cognitive workload of the nurses in the clinical environment. The Humanscale MedSync software is exclusive for BD Pyxis™ ES System customers designed to further enhance the nursing workflow by automatically assigning a drawer to a newly admitted patient. “When it comes to patient safety, our partnership with BD is revolutionary,” said Heather Fennimore, Founder, President, Global Healthcare at Humanscale. “Combining MedSync with Pyxis™ ES System will significantly reduce the occurrence of medication errors, while allowing caregivers to focus on what truly matters–patient care.”

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BD CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR TECHNOLOGIES ON THE SAME PAGE, AND YOUR TEAM DOING WHAT MATTERS MOST. At BD, we know medication management is incredibly complex. Aligning people, technologies and systems to get a single medication safely to a patient is daunting. But there’s a better way, one that helps hospitals get all the players, parts and processes on the same page. At the heart of it is the BD HealthSight™ platform, our integrated approach that connects the BD Alaris™ and BD Pyxis™ solutions with each other—and with the EMR. Combine this with BD Rowa™ technologies to manage inventory more effectively. The result? Improved efficiency and greater visibility across your enterprise, so you can get back to what matters most: your patients. Discover medication management that takes less management. Discover the new BD.

Discover more about how BD can help you evaluate and improve your medication management system by calling +971 4 559 2555 or visiting our Center for Safety and Clinical Excellence, Dubai MMS.EMA@bd.com or bd.com/MM-Arab BD, the BD Logo, Alaris, HealthSight, Pyxis and Rowa are trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company. © 2019 BD and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. 1910001510

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Qatar Ranks 5th for Health in World, says International Think Tank

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mproved life expectancy, better health outcomes, and investment in health infrastructure have led to Qatar being ranked 5th in the world for health by the Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank. In compiling the health ranking in the annual prosperity index, countries’ performance in three areas, including basic health outcomes, health infrastructure and preventative care, and physical and mental health were evaluated.

public sector hospitals and more than 1,100 new hospital beds. We have also opened four new Health and Wellness Centers. The ranking also recognizes that our focus on areas such as cancer, diabetes, and smoking cessation are having a positive impact on people’s lives, and ultimately it recognizes that life expectancy in Qatar continues to improve,” said Her Excellency Dr. Al Kuwari.

The rise in the rankings from 13th place last year has been driven by the fact that Qatar has the highest life expectancy rate in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and globally ranks in the top 25 percentile for healthcare access and quality. The country’s healthcare spending is among the highest in the Middle East, with QAR 22.7 billion invested in healthcare in 2018, a 4 percent increase from the previous year. Qatar is the only country in the region to score in the top five on the annual prosperity index, placing behind Singapore, Luxembourg, Japan, and Switzerland. Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health said under the wise leadership of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar has invested heavily in the health sector. She said the top placement in the international index is a reflection of the country’s commitment to system-wide priorities designed to both meet the needs of future generations and improve the health of the current population.

Since 2017, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has opened four new hospitals - Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Women’s Wellness and Research Center, the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, and the Ambulatory Care Center - significantly expanding its infrastructure and the range of services offered to patients. In the past eighteen months, Sidra Medicine, Naufar, and four new Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) Health and Wellness Centers and one new Health Center have opened. Additionally, a number of new private sector hospitals and diagnostic and treatment centers have begun caring for patients and additional healthcare facilities are set to open this year. Her Excellency said the opening of the new facilities, along with the expansion of existing services, is part of the long-term plan set out in the National Health Strategy 2018-2022. She said a focus on preventative care and integrated services across the whole health sector is helping ensure that when people need care, they are able to access it in a timely way.

“The 2018 ranking recognizes the investment the country has made in health infrastructure. Over the past two years, we have opened six new

“We’ve made real and substantial changes to the way the health system works, moving from focusing on treating the symptoms of a disease to

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helping people stay healthy. The establishment of new facilities and services like HMC’s Tobacco Control Center, the National Obesity Treatment Center, and PHCC’s Lifestyle Clinics, and the implementation of tools like the electronic patient health record across the public health system and the introduction of the MyHealth Patient Portal, are helping to empower patients to share the responsibility for their health,” added Her Excellency Dr. Al Kuwari. Her Excellency Dr. Al Kuwari noted that Qatar’s health system is continually measuring itself against the very highest international standards. “It is a mark of how far Qatar’s healthcare system has progressed in recent years that it now not only meets but exceeds many international benchmarks for quality of care. For example, the international benchmark for the time that elapses from when a heart attack patient arrives at the hospital to the time the blocked artery is opened is 90 minutes, while at Heart Hospital, it is around 60 minutes. And at HMC 68 percent of stroke patients are treated with acute intervention within 60 minutes of arrival, above the international benchmark of 50 to 60 percent. We have also worked hard to focus our efforts on infection control and have an incidence per 10,000 patient days of hospital-acquired MRSA of just 0.2, well below 0.6 in the US and 5.5 in Switzerland.” Qatar also ranks strongly for a number of health outcomes. The nation has the highest life expectancy rate in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and has seen the crude death rate per 100,000 population decline throughout this decade, from 99.1 in 2014 to 80.2 in 2017.

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Heart Survey reveals the common struggles of people trying to lose weight two months in their weight-loss plan, and 43 percent gave up within one month. More than half (53 percent) blamed their metabolism for working against them. “The survey shows that people do understand the need to maintain a healthy weight, and most will try to do something about losing weight, but find the goals they set themselves will stay stubbornly beyond their reach,” said Steven Nissen, M.D., chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. “Finding the right balance between healthy diet and exercise, and then maintaining that for the long term, is difficult, and many people are giving up too quickly.”

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ost people who try to lose weight end up believing their body is working against them, as they fail to find a balance of diet and exercise that delivers the results they hoped for. That’s one of the key findings of the annual Cleveland Clinic Heart Health Survey, conducted for American Heart Month in February. For its 2019 edition, the survey highlighted the link between body weight and heart health, and found Americans were struggling to lose their excess kilos. The survey found that more than eight-in-ten (84 percent) had tried at least one weight-loss method in the past, well above the 46 percent who described themselves as overweight or obese. However, most people (55 percent) lasted less than

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A significant number – 74 percent – said improving heart health was a major motivator for losing weight. As a main approach to weight loss, people were more likely to increase their activity level rather than change their food intake. While 53 percent had tried to exercise more to lose weight, 43 percent had tried to make dietary changes. Dislike of exercise (24 percent), lack of time (22 percent), and not seeing results (19 percent) despite their efforts, were barriers to maintaining a healthy weight. Twenty-two percent said they were discouraged when they didn’t see immediate results, something that was slightly more common for women than men. Dr. Nissen said people may be correct in blaming their metabolism for making them struggle with weight loss – at least in part. In particular, those hoping for immediate results might find their body fighting back.

“Your body does try to maintain its normal weight, so once you have been overweight, it will try to hold onto that excess fat making it more difficult to lose,” Dr. Nissen explained. “The best approach is to follow a steady, long-term weight-loss plan that will be slower but more sustainable. Fast results are less likely to last. “We also observed that many people don’t understand how to define their success or failure in health terms. Around half of people responding to the survey believed you would need to lose around 15 to 20 percent of body weight to see health benefits, whereas in reality there are clear benefits from losing as little as five percent of your weight. There’s also around 71 percent of people who don’t know their BMI (body mass index), which helps track whether you are a healthy weight relative to your height, age and gender.” Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and around the world. The survey was conducted as part of Cleveland Clinic’s “Love your Heart” consumer education campaign in celebration of American Heart Month. Headquartered in Ohio, Cleveland Clinic has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in the country for cardiology and cardiac surgery for 24 years in a row by benchmarking publication US News & World Report. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a U.S. Government agency, nearly 40 percent of Americans – 93 million people – are obese, and even more are overweight. For more information and the complete survey results, go to: clevelandclinic.org/loveyourheart

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H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the DHA inaugurates new 150-bed Multi-Specialty Aster Hospital in Al Qusais the growing needs of the population while making quality healthcare easily available and more accessible for people.We are grateful to DHA for its continued patronage and for being an enabler in our mission. Our approach to care aligns with a universal principle of human beings treating each other well to ensure social progress and betterment, supporting the values of tolerance and co-existence whilst also supporting the happiness agenda,” said Dr. Azad Moopen.

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.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA)formally inaugurated the 150-bed multi-specialty Aster Hospital located in Al Qusais, in presence of Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman & Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare and H. E Abdulla Ahmed Al Habbai, Chairman of Dubai Holdings and Group Chairman of Meraas. H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of DHA commented, “Increase in demand for quality health services due to Dubai’s rapid urban development, rise in demand for in-patient services and influx of medical tourists has necessitated the continued need to support and encourage the development of worldclass healthcare delivery system. At DHA, we remain committed to supporting a conducive environment for investments and encourage the leading healthcare players like Aster to play an active role in shaping the

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sector. Through the launch of this new hospital today, we are glad that Aster DM Healthcare is adding more beds with advanced treatment facilities in UAE.” “The 150-bed Aster Hospital in Al Qusais,with 352 employees will have all the usual specialties with new specialties like neurology also being introduced.Apart from 38 doctors at Aster Mankhool, the new hospital would also tap into Aster DM Healthcare’s network of over 2500 doctors to bring in acclaimed specialists in UAE. Some of these doctors have performed complex surgeries like organ transplants, brain and cardiac surgeries. With high-prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, an increased availability of tertiary care expertise locally, is the need of the hour. The new hospital is part of Aster DM Healthcare’s continued commitment as an integrated healthcare service organization to cater to

A combined bed capacity of 275+ is now being offered by Aster Hospitals, spread across the two locations. In total, Aster DM Healthcare now offers a bed capacity of 600+ across its facilities in UAE. At Al Qusais, further to facilities including as many as six operation theatres, the hospital features a critical care unit, a neo-natal unit, 24-hour emergency care and a pharmacy. In addition to a range of recovery rooms at scalable price points.Obstetrics andgynecology, pediatrics and neonatology, gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, neurology,neurosurgery, ENT, endocrinology, orthopedics, urology, nephrology, ophthalmology, general & laparoscopic surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, dentistry, emergency medicine critical care, 24/7 emergency room and trauma care, radiology, pathology, rehabilitation, pulmonology, cardiology, family medicine, hepatology, anesthesiology, oncology are some of the specialisms on offer. Specialisms including rheumatology, hematology and bariatric, vascular and plastic surgery will be offered in the near term.

Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare

Patient Safety First Now in its 7th year, the Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare is an annual gathering of healthcare professionals interested in improving patient safety and experience. This Forum regularly connects around 3,000 healthcare leaders and practitioners from around the globe, providing a stimulating and inspirational setting for healthcare professionals to meet, learn and share knowledge with the collective aim to improve the quality and safety of care for the patients and communities we serve. Key reasons to attend:

Be inspired by expert speakers from around the world to discover innovative yet practical new ways to promote safety. Network with 3,000 other international healthcare professionals. Submit a quality improvement poster and spread your knowledge to others. Gain new skills and insights from those working in the field and learn about effective, evidence based solutions to apply in your workplace. Join healthcare leaders and practitioners to discuss ways to collaboratively improve outcomes for patients and communities relevant to the Arab world and beyond.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity Register today online MEF2019.hamad.qa

Earn up to

21.5 CPD hours

The ME Forum 2019 tracks cover a wide range of relevant topics: Patient Safety Making the health care continuum safer by reducing harm and preventing mortality. Population Health Improving health outcomes for populations of people with diverse health needs by building partnerships between health systems and communities. Quality Improvement Ensuring that improvement science drives meaningful and far-reaching changes that truly improve health and health care. Workplace Effectiveness Providing proven methods and resources to enable healthcare professionals to not merely persevere but to truly thrive. Value, Flow and Access Accelerating an organization’s ability to thrive in value-based care, understanding the importance of optimizing patient flow through, and access to the healthcare system.

This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity Category 1 as defined by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners - Accreditation Department and is approved for a maximum of 21.5 hours.

Brought to you by Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute

NEWS

10 Years On: A Unified Voice and Vision For Ethical Standards In MedTech Innovation Across The Region quality of content. The system has also trained close to 2,000 professionals across multiple countries in the region, to raise awareness, educate them and encourage them to adhere to these principles. The positive reaction of both authorities and PCOs, and the increasing number of conferences being vetted by the system are a testament to the recognition of its effectiveness in ultimately protecting the patient.

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ecomed, the trade association for medical devices, imaging and diagnostics for the Middle East and Africa region, was established over 10 years ago with a clear purpose: to unify the region’s MedTech industry – their vision and efforts, to create a compliant and regulated marketplace. This purpose was set to accomplish a much larger vision - of making sure patients have timely access to the safest and most innovative healthcare technologies. With this forming the heart of their endeavors, Mecomed set out to shape the industry by rallying healthcare stakeholders to foster good citizenship by ensuring ethical business behavior, encourage value-based healthcare and work proactively with governments to improve the quality of people’s health. Headed by Chairman, Rami Rajab and comprising a core team, Mecomed hosted a networking breakfast during Arab Health to showcase some of the key achievements and aspirations of the association. The ever-growing body of around 40 multinational companies, which covers Middle East and Africa, has been working tirelessly to forge reliable partnerships with governments,

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healthcare organisations and other key stakeholders to bring the highest international standards and technology to the regional healthcare landscape. What can perhaps be considered a crowning glory is the implementation of the new Code of Ethical Business Practice for the region at the start of 2018. Developed in line with the principles used by Global Medical Technology Alliance, the code has brought about major changes by increasing transparency and regulating all aspects of the industry’s interaction with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) and Healthcare Organizations (HCOs), including company-organized events, arrangements with consultants, research, and financial support to medical education. It has banned the direct sponsorship of HCPs by any MedTech member company at healthcare events and conferences and has encouraged them to support medical education without advertising themselves or influencing HCPs. The Conference Vetting System (CVS), implemented by Mecomed in collaboration with Ethical MedTech, assesses all third-party medical events to ensure compliance with set guidelines, that have been created to guarantee uniformity, transparency and increased

Moreover, Mecomed works closely with authorities to drive regulatory harmonization and offer support with reviewing and implementing new regulations and guidelines. The team assesses these guidelines to help draft the right scope, ensure they meet the international standards and reflect the latest global regulatory developments, and introduce new technologies and innovations in the market, swiftly and safely. They also help in providing relevant experts as speakers and trainers for events, conferences or trainings, to ensure quality education of attendees and participants. “We are one voice with one aim: to ensure the best patient outcomes in a safe and ethical way. It is our duty as the region’s trade association to make sure that all MedTech companies and their affiliates work towards earning patients’ trust, by adhering to the highest and most ethical standards of healthcare practice. It is our responsibility to work closely with government authorities to help provide the guidelines, processes and support to our members, to deliver the very best in healthcare – be it through education, innovation or sound regulation” – said Rami Rajab, Chairman of Mecomed.

Shaping the industry, keeping the patient first.

A unified voice for the region’s MedTech industry. Add your voice by joining the Mecomed Medical Technology Association Middle East & Africa

For enquiries please contact: +971 4 513 6977 | info@mecomed.com

www.mecomed.com

NEWS

Vejthani Hospital opens comprehensive wound care center specialized in diabetic wound treatment

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ejthani Hospital in Bangkok announced the opening of a wound care center to offer comprehensive treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. The new facility will effectively address the healthcare needs of patients who suffer from this condition, especially patients of Arab nationalities. According to statistics from International Diabetes Federation, more than 38 million Arabs are diabetic and 25 percent face related complications such as peripheral arterial disease and diabetic foot ulcers. Vejthani, one of the leading hospitals in Asia, offers comprehensive medical services with world-class standards and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technology. In addition to the newly opened Integrated Wound Care Center, which has multi-disciplinary team approach that consist of highly specialized doctors and surgeon; such as, Vascular surgeon, Wound Care Specialist/Surgeon, Foot & Ankle surgeon, Infectious specialist, Diabetic specialist etc. Dr. Supachai Chanvitan, Vascular Surgeon at Vejthani Hospital, mentioned that people with diabetes are at higher risk of chronic wounds than ordinary people, and in that about 60 to 70 per cent of patients with chronic wounds often associate with vascular disorders. He emphasized that some patients who do not receive timely treatment or receive wrong treatments are at great risk of losing some vital organs, and this makes immediate treatment of chronic wounds in the proper manner extremely important to avoid further complications. As a result of advancements in modern medicine, devices and techniques used, diabetic wound treatments are

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now yielding better results. These include the treatment of diabetic wound through surgical therapy “Revascularization” to reopen or bypass blockages in the blood vessels and restore blood flow to the limbs to nourish wounds, a small surgery in the blood vessels (Endovascular) which reduce the risk of heart and brain complications. This is suitable for even elderly patients and those with significant health risks. Besides reducing the risk of amputation of body parts, the procedure also helps a speedy recovery. The medical team specializing in diabetic wound treatment at Vejthani Hospital consists of a General surgeon with expertise in the treatment of diabetes, ulcers, bedsore, burns and chronic wounds; a Vascular surgeon specialized in peripheral arterial disease wounds, blood vessel weakness and blood flow; and a Foot & Ankle surgeon to attend to extreme cases where infection has spread to the bones. In addition to Diabetes and Endocrine specialists who monitor blood sugar levels, an Infectious diseases specialist will monitor the condition of wounds to ensure speedy recovery. The hospital provides comprehensive treatments with the support of a range of advanced techniques and technology, such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), the patient inhales 100 per cent pure oxygen in a special device, which will promote and stimulate tissue growth and deliver blood to the affected areas of the body in a better way. The Maggot Therapy treatment uses live disinfected Maggots into the non-healing wound(s) for the purpose of cleaning out the necrotic (dead) tissue within a wound, while Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) helps the recovery of certain types of wounds that cannot be sutured. Furthermore, the hospital uses dead tissue eradication treatment through Hydro Surgery, a device that cuts dead tissues by pumping water in high pressure, which gives better results. Meanwhile, Endovascular Therapy increases the blood flow to nourish gangrene wounds through surgery and making small incision. In addition, wearing special medical shoes made for diabetic patients after recovery reduces the recurrence of wounds. Vejthani Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand, near the shopping centers and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, provides comprehensive medical services under the supervision of a team of specialized doctors, in addition to other medical services such as preventive treatments.

NEWS

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Baylor St. Luke’s esteemed doctor treats out-of-state patient Why Michele Hemstreet took a flight of faith

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ichele Hemstreet and her family are used to moving around. Having a husband whose job allowed them to live abroad and in several different states taught Michele and her family how important it is to establish roots and embrace each new beginning. Making friends and developing a comfortable community were the family’s typical first steps, but in 2013, the move from Illinois to North Carolina had Michele searching for something completely different. In 1986, Michele was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Being

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only 26 years old with a one-yearold baby, Michele emphasizes “[the diagnosis] was a lot to take in and process at such a young age.” After the cancerous mass was removed, the doctors began radiation. “They radiated my neck where the cancer was found and my chest,” says Michele about her cancer treatment. For almost 30 years after her diagnosis and treatment, Michele led a normal, active life. However, in 2012, when visiting her doctor for a routine appointment, he recommended she take a standard healthy heart scan. Unexpected to both of them, the results revealed Michele’s heart was affected by moderately

severe aortic stenosis. Her doctors confirmed the condition of her heart was due to the radiation she had experienced nearly 30 years prior. After having a stent put in by her trusted team of doctors in Illinois, her impending move to North Carolina had her searching for a new doctor as she knew the stent was only a temporary fix. “I wanted to find someone who specialized in radiated tissue,” says Michele, knowing that her request was very specific. Michele was able to find a doctor with that exact “area of expertise:” Dr. Juan Carlos Plana. Mi-

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

chele met with him a few times before he moved to Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, and though that was far from her new address in North Carolina, Michele took the flight of faith to continue seeing him. “I felt that I was in good hands,” says Michele when thinking back to her initial visit. “Although I could have opted to see another doctor in Cleveland, I already felt comfortable in his care.

Dr. Plana’s expertise in the area of radiation induced heart disease made the decision to follow him to Houston the right one for me.” In 2017, after battling breast cancer alongside her heart condition, Dr. Plana worked with a team of cardiac specialists necessary for the complexity of Michele’s case to ensure a successful aortic valve replacement. Prior to her surgery, Michele’s symptoms had become more compli-

cated making her visits to Baylor St. Luke’s more frequent. “One of the reasons I come back to [St. Luke’s] is for the quality of care and their ability to deal with complicated cases,” says Michele. Now, both Michele and her husband, Mark are retired and feel settled in their home in North Carolina. And though each appointment requires a flight to Texas, the confidence Michele has in Dr. Plana has made it all worth it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES AT BAYLOR ST LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER Via email at international@stlukeshealth.org or call +1 832 355 3350 or visit StLukesInternational.org Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas - USA

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INTERVIEW

Chief of the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Dr. Timothy P. Cripe “I chose pediatric cancer because I love children and they always inspire me”

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uring Arab Health Show 2019, “Hospitals” magazine had the chance to interview Dr. Timothy Cripe, chief of division of Hematology, Oncology and BMT at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Nationwide Children’s Hospital is ranked one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report and treats patients with the rarest cancers and blood disorders across the country and around the world. We discussed the latest treatments and what matters most when a child is in need of life-saving care.

Can you tell us more about your background? And why you chose pediatric cancer? I received my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Princeton University, and my M.D. and Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Iowa. I entered this field because I love kids and I don’t like seeing people suffer. The reason I chose pediatrics is because children are innocent and helpless and they get sick by chance, it is not like they lived a long unhealthy life and brought it upon themselves. Most of us think that when you deal with children with illnesses you will get depressed, but I find myself inspired by them every day. They tolerate treatments better than adults and for the most part have a positive attitude towards life and conquering

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their disease. I always find myself wanting to help them feel better, but even though we have had great success in children cancers especially leukemia, we still have a long way to go. In fact, brain cancers have taken over as the most common cause of death due to disease in childhood. As a scientist I find this very challenging yet I’m hopeful for the future.

Why do children get cancer? What are the risk factors and causes? The good news is that childhood cancer makes up only around 1% of all the cancers diagnosed each year. But we really don’t know why they get cancer and the way to prevent it. As we know most adult cancer is age-related, being much more frequent in older persons. With age, the

adult cells and the mechanisms that the body uses to fight cancer cells deteriorate, and could be exposed throughout the life stages of an individual to toxins due to smoking, unhealthy lifestyle or environmental factors. On the other hand, childhood cancers are different from those seen in adults and we now know from all the genetic studies done previously that perhaps up to 30% of the cases are due to some combination of inherited genetic predispositions. A strong family history of cancer may increase a child’s risk of cancer.

What are the services that you offer in your department? We offer advanced treatments for children with any type of cancer even the rarest ones. We also treat patients

INTERVIEW

with benign tumors and all types of blood diseases. We perform blood and marrow transplantation and both T and NK cell-based cellular therapies. We deliver something called MIBG for patients with neuroblastoma, which requires a lead-lined hospital room. We offer genomic evaluation of a patient’s cancer cells. And we have one of the best, comprehensive, multidisciplinary pediatric brain tumor teams who offer the most advanced treatments to give the children the best outcome possible. Our mission is to offer the child the best treatments that exist and we also offer guidance to the family to be able to cope with the situation socially, emotionally and psychologically. We also do a great deal of research both in the laboratory and in the clinic to help discover treatments of the future.

What are the latest treatments in pediatric cancer?

field to determine which patient will respond to a given therapy. We think a big benefit of immunotherapy resides in fewer long-term side effects compared to traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Genomics is another huge field that is now enabling us to identify key molecular drivers of an individual’s cancer and can help guide the selection of personalized, so-called targeted, therapies. Definitely, we are on the cusp of a new generation of cellular and targeted therapies for pediatric cancer that will allow us to decrease the side effects of chemotherapy with a better treatment outcome.

Can you describe for us the vision of Nationwide Children’s Hospital?

been able to grow in size and scope tremendously and create a research institute, where we collect information about diseases, test new therapies and bring them to our patients. One of the biggest challenges we faced was creating the infrastructure such recruiting talented scientists and clinical trialists, establishing a large staff with experience in conducting clinical trials, as well as building things like a manufacturing facility to produce the therapeutics. Over the last few years we have put all of these in place. We are committed to providing the highest quality of treatments and delivering the best healthcare services to all children. We always try to seek new innovations to improve the lives of children and their families.

Our vision is to be a world leader in providing access to the most innovative treatments not only for children with cancer and blood diseases but for those with any other disease. We have

To learn more about Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Dr. Cripe, please visit NationwideChildrens.org/ Hematology-Oncology-BMT

The latest, most exciting development is CAR T-cell treatment that was FDA approved for a certain type of leukemia, B cell lymphoblastic leukemia. The treatment consists of taking the patient’s own immune T cells, i.e. the infection fighting cells, which are genetically modified and put back into the patient to fight the cancer cells. And the results have been nothing short of stunning. I used to sit at the bedside of a leukemia patient and tell him we have nothing more for you, but now 80% of the patients in that situation benefit from this new treatment. I think immunotherapy is transforming the way we look at cancer, but more research is needed in this

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Early Detection and Response to Patient Deterioration in General Care Identifying Patient Deterioration Early identification of patient deterioration is key to intervening for serious conditions like sepsis. However, early indicators can present subtly, making detection difficult and subjective. Adding complexity, there are often several signs or symptoms that—when they present together— can indicate the onset of a condition far more serious than what may be diagnosed by just looking at one of those signs or symptoms individually. Connecting the dots to see the com-

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plete picture becomes vital to enabling faster, more informed decisions on providing care. General care floors are faced with several unique challenges in early detection of patient deterioration. • Patient acuity levels are rising, but staff-to-patient ratios generally are not. • A wider range of staff members, with varying levels of clinical training and experience, are taking patient vital signs. • Some important indicators of

•

deterioration are not consistently part of routine vitals acquisition (e.g., respiratory rate, urine output, level of consciousness). Vitals are not typically monitored continuously in this setting. Rather, they are spotchecked during rounds every four to six hours, depending on the patient. Time spent assessing the patient during those visits to the bedside becomes critical in collecting comprehensive information

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

and making it actionable so that clinicians can react quickly in order to impact patient outcomes.

especially automated scores, as opposed to manual calculations—has been shown to improve effectiveness. •

How can general care departments improve early detection without drastically disrupting existing clinical workflows? •

The Importance of Early Detection Research suggests that the signs and symptoms of clinical deterioration can be detected as early as six to eight hours before an event or arrest.1 However, physiological signs and symptoms of clinical deterioration can be difficult to detect in early stages. •

Deterioration in a patient’s clinical condition frequently occurs over several hours before a critical event, providing hospital staff with a potential window of opportunity for intervention if detection of signs and symptoms occurs early. • Evidence-based practices to address early clinical deterioration include implementation of a rapid response team (RRT). • Quickly providing clinical caregivers with intelligently filtered information regarding specific patient conditions at the bedside can improve clinical decision support. • To aid in early detection, track and trigger methods (TTMs) assign a number score to specific signs and symptoms the patient may be either exhibiting or verbalizing. The use of early warning scores—

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Nurses who used analytic decision-making activated Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) about twice as much as those using their intuition.2 Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) calculations three times per day have been shown to result in two times as many RRT calls and decrease the number of ICU transfers by 40%.3 A pediatric unit’s implementation of a Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) resulted in 85% of children with PEWS ≥3 improving their condition within 24 hours of a rapid medical intervention.4

A Solution for Improving Detection and Assisting in Faster Care Decisions It can seem daunting to incorporate a process for collecting the information important to detecting patient deterioration—and put it to use to aid in clinical decision support. An approach to consider is making this an integral and intuitive part of the vital signs collection process that clinicians perform every day. Welch Allyn Connex® vital signs devices can help hospitals combine vital signs measurement with the collection of additional patient observational information—all in a single workflow. • Vital signs and additional collected information are automatically calculated to generate an overall patient score—directly on the device

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at the bedside. Clinicians are prompted with messages providing specific response actions based on the patient score and your facility’s protocols. Complete information can then be sent directly to the patient’s record in the EMR.

Summary As med/surg departments continue to care for higher-acuity patients, they need intuitive tools to help them identify signs of patient deterioration—and align with existing workflows. The use of automated early warning scores, such as those featured in Welch Allyn Connex vital signs devices, can help provide the timely decision support clinicians need to respond to patient changes right at the bedside. References 1 Utilization of Electronic Modified Early Warning Score to Engage Rapid Response Team Early in Clinical Deterioration; Melody A. Rose, DNP, RN; Lee Ann Hanna, PhD, RN; Sareda A. Nur, MD; Constance M. Johnson, PhD, RN. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development & Volume 31, Issue 3. 2 Parker, C. J. (2014). Decision-making models used by medical-surgical nurses to activate rapid response teams. MedSurg Nursing, 23(3), 159-164. 3 Ludikhuize, J., Borgert, M., Binnekade, J., Subbe, C., Dongelmans, D., & Goossens, A. (2014). Standardized measurement of the Modified Early Warning Score results in enhanced implementation of a Rapid Response System: A quasi-experimental study. Resuscitation, 85(2014): 676-82. 4 Ennis, L. (2014). Paediatric early warning scores on a children’s ward: a quality improvement initiative. Nursing Children and Young People, 26(7): 25-31.

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INTERVIEW

Senior Medical Director, Abbott Diagnostics

Dr. Agim Beshiri “Many things can be done to reduce our chance to get heart disease”

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uring our interview with Dr. Agim Beshiri, MD Senior Medical Director at Abbott Diagnostics, “Hospitals” magazine had the chance to shed light on the life-changing revolutionary test that allows physicians to accurately study the risks of a person having a cardiac event long before it happens.

What can you tell us about your career in healthcare? My medical background includes internal medicine and laboratory medicine. I completed my studies and training at the University of Wisconsin, UNIBE School of Medicine and the Academy of Health Sciences. Joining the healthcare industry gives me the opportunity to have an impact on millions of patients instead of few patients that I can see every day. This is very gratifying to know that you are a part of the global aspect of healthcare.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world for both men and women, what are the latest tests that can help us predict the chance of having

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heart problems? Heart disease, especially heart attacks can often happen suddenly, if we are talking about a patient that arrives at the Emergency Department (ED) with chest pain, the Electrocardiogram (ECG), is done immediately to determine if they need to be sent for immediate intervention, because they are having a heart attack. But patients that don’t have indications on the ECG, a blood test that measures a protein called troponin, which is released from the heart when the heart muscle is damaged, can help the ED doctors to determine if the patient is having a heart attack. This can avoid sending the patient home and risking death, or coming back with a worse condition.

What about patients who are at risk of having heart disease? We spoke about patients within acute setting and chest pain, but if we are investigating patients for longterm impacts of heart disease and general heart disease, we look at their general risk factors, family history, hypertension, diabetes and lifestyle, as well as blood test like the lipid profile. Most recently, we introduced high sensitivity troponin-l test. This test is so sensitive that we can detect very low levels of troponin in most of the general healthy population. Seven years of research have brought us to this point where high-sensitivity troponin-I can be utilized for risk stratifying the general population for risk of heart disease.

INTERVIEW

Who should take the highsensitivity troponin test and when? Should it be part of our routine health checkup? This blood test should be done by every adult that has a health check and a clinician wants to assess their longterm risk for cardiovascular disease. Because this test is cardiac specific and is released by cardiac muscle when there is injury to that muscle, it will give patients and clinicians a better indication of their true risk for cardiac events over the next 10 years. Unlike cholesterol which is measured for determining cardiac risk but is not released by the heart, it is what may cause the heart to be injured. So, if the physician and the patient are aware of what may cause injury and how much injury there is, they will have a much more accurate path to determine and prevent cardiovascular disease.

heart attack per se. So, a patient may not be having a heart attack, but they are having something damaging the muscle enough to elevate troponin. In these cases, we have to see the underlying causes of troponin elevation and try to modify them by lifestyle changes and possibly treating them with medication when possible.

Are there ways to help prevent heart disease and keep our hearts healthy? Fortunately, we can do many things to reduce our chances to get heart disease; the best thing to do is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. What I mean by healthy lifestyle is: Get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, stay at a healthy weight, and manage stress. All these steps can help us reduce our cardiovascular risk factors tremendously. Also talking to your doctor and knowing your family medical history are important in determining your future risk.

Is it possible that a person can have an elevated troponin without having heart attack? And what measurements should be taken in this case?

Can you tell us more about the high-sensitivity troponin test?

Yes, they may not be having a heart attack, but that doesn’t mean they are not at risk of having a cardiac event in the future. When we talk about risk factors, we are talking about a 10-year risk profile. Elevated levels of troponin could be due to a chronic cause, like heart failure, chronic renal failure, hypertension or atrial fibrillation. These all cause cardiac muscle injury but are not a

Since it was launched, the troponin test has been utilized as the gold standard in the emergency department in helping diagnose heart attacks. With all the research that we did after developing the test, we realized that we can utilize it in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and not just diagnosis. Now physicians have a blood test that can predict the chance of getting a heart attack or any

cardiac event 10 years in advance. As we know cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the world, the mortality rate will exceed in 2030 all other diseases combined. Therefore, prevention is going to be key to curve that mortality rate in the world. Having said that, the high-sensitivity Troponin test will help in preventing heart disease by identifying the risk factor at an early stage, and allowing people to take control of their heart health.

What are the guidelines today on when to start screening people for heart disease? As per the current guidelines, we start screening people for prevention at 45 years and older, but if you screen at 45 and the patient is at high risk, that means that the damage is already done and you should have screened 10 or 15 years earlier, in order to be able to reduce the risk. The goal of screening is to detect disease at its earliest and most treatable stage. Patients with no signs and symptoms should be aware of this test and should have the choice to know the risks they have and how to avoid having untreatable damages in the future. We need to change the way we have been practicing prevention by broadening the screening to younger age groups, including cardiac specific variables, such as high-sensitivity troponin I (which is indicated for this use), and finally drive awareness for patients as well as physicians.

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

MedsBla Artificial Intelligence for the Medical Sector performed by keyword. If someone is looking for fever, for example, the tool displays results in which that exact term appears. MedsBla´s intelligent search engine, however, goes further. If someone searches for fever, the system shows everything related to the concept of fever, such as the term pyrexia. “Our artificial intelligence medical search engine is created relating medical terms conceptually. This helps us provide most relevant medical results for semantic queries, which is nothing different than asking a medical expert your medical doubts”, Minnu Ashokkumar, Senior Product Owner.

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rtificial intelligence is increasingly present in the daily life of any person. Bots that solve all your doubts, cameras that take photos when they recognize moments that they consider relevant or headphones with simultaneous translation. There are many applications of this technology, which has also reached the medical sector. MedsBla´s intelligent search engine, developed by the Spanish start-up MedLab Media Group (MMG), is part of this field. This semantic search engine uses artificial intelligence to offer doctors interesting information from reliable medical sources. Through a simple search, the user is able to find studies, news, protocols, drugs and calculators. The results of each section are closely related between them. This is the competitive advantage of the search engine as none of the products on the market currently offer this, like UpToDate®, ClinicalKey® or PubMed.

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MedsBla´s search engine is a medical use tool based on in-house technology developed by MMG. In this case, artificial intelligence allows the search engine to understand databases of medical texts and offer health professionals or medical students only relevant results. This makes an essential difference to general search engines, where searches often provide results from unreliable sources. “Current search engines do not give filtered information about medical concepts, they index all types of content. Our search engine selects them using reliable sources, so it does a first screening for the user, removing content without scientific validation,” said Oleg Vorontsov, CEO of MMG. What differentiates MedsBla’s search engine from others is that it allows the user to perform a semantic search. Normally, searches are

The aim of this intelligent search engine is to provide useful results to resolve doubts, expand knowledge or simply update yourself. To achieve this, it is constantly fed by sources contrasted by medical professionals. Currently, its database is made up of more than 10,000 medical news from different specialties, 21,098 active ingredient, 7,937 data sheets, more than 18,000 drug references, 1510 laboratories, more than 70,000 dictionary entries, more than 200 medical calculators, more than 1,800,000 scientific research articles and more than 2400 clinical guides and protocols. And it keeps on growing. The idea is to offer relevant, refined and complete information. All in one place and through a single search, the doctor can find all the content available in the database on a given concept. In this way, for example, if you search for von Willebrand factor, the semantic search engine will

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

show articles, drugs or news related to the search, allowing users to filter what interest them most. Now, it is available in English and Spanish, with the intention of soon offering other languages, such as Arabic or French.

How does it work Behind this artificial intelligence tool there are graphs and hypergraph theory, Kernel theory and natural language processing (NLP). Thanks to this basis, the system is able to analyse scientific texts in search of known concepts. Then, it relates these concepts to each other, generating new concepts. Thus, it creates increasingly complex knowledge, which is comparable to that generated by human beings. MedsBla technology can also make inferences, deduce new information and order it. This sorting is done according to relevant criteria. Mathematical representation in the form of graphs and Kernel theory are

used for this. In this way, this search engine based on artificial intelligence stores medical information efficiently and comprehensibly for computers. This allows the user to obtain information quickly and efficiently through their searches. In addition, MedsBla´s intelligent search engine is able to abstract the language and represent the content through alphanumeric codes. All this, regardless of the language in which the content was written. To carry out this process, the search engine is supported by SNOMED CT ontology, the most precise terminology, codified and multilingual product that currently exists in the whole world.

Neural networks Unlike human beings, computers use mathematics as the basis for the programming languages with which they communicate. A few years ago, applications that sought to imitate

human mental capacity emerged. The basis, again, is artificial intelligence. Along these lines, MMG saw the need to create a system that replicated the human way of storing and processing information. To represent this information the ontologies are used, graphs in which concepts are connected to each other through relationships. Artificial neural networks also play an essential role. These are the starting point of the learning algorithms that have recently become popular among companies such as Google, Amazon or Facebook. These networks are used so that a computer learns by itself in an attended or unattended way. “With our technology, we wanted to take the latest advances in artificial intelligence one step further, and then bring them closer to the world of healthcare”, Ignacio San Román, Head of MMG AI Research Department. This search engine powered by artificial intelligence fits MMG’s view of democratizing medical knowledge. The company also advocates the idea that good management of medical knowledge is necessary for the industry. This is the reason MMG has developed its seeking to become an assistant for medical decision making. No matter where you are, artificial intelligence will be at your fingertips

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and will help you in your diagnosis. “The goal of MMG is to provide the entire medical community with equal opportunities by offering immediate access to information regardless of geographic location or economic status. MMG seeks to become a global benchmark in e-health under the umbrella of Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and encrypted communication,” Vorontsov said. The businessman created MMG at the end of 2015 with Arni Giraldo and Luis Velasco. It was clear to the three founding partners that they wanted a cutting-edge technology company

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that would offer solutions to the medical sector. In their search for differentiation, they found a business model focused on the latest technologies, such as Big Data and artificial intelligence. Three years later, the company has 75 employees and offices in Spain, India, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “In the Middle East, the healthcare sector presents a great opportunity for MMG as it has emerged as one of the most critical sectors for pursuing economic diversification. The UAE’s healthcare sector is one of the largest in the region and we want to leverage the opportunity to advance the country’s objectives to further boost

the sector and bring innovative and quality services that will enhance the UAE’s position on the global medical map”, added the CEO of MMG, which has participated in the latest editions of Global Health Exhibition and Arab Health. A group of specialists in different subjects works in the Spanish company. Behind MedsBla’s intelligent search engine and this technology, for example, there are software experts, mathematicians, telecommunications engineers, industrial engineers, biomedical engineers, computer scientists and statisticians specialised in Data Science. These professionals are joined by experts in new technologies, marketing, design and communication. A multidisciplinary and multicul-

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tural team that constitutes one of the main values of the company.

Other projects Artificial intelligence is the basis of the medical search engine developed by MMG, but it does not only apply to this project. The company is also conducting research to develop an algorithm capable of analysing dental images. In this project, the start-up team works closely with dentists from several countries, who are contributing with their knowledge to the field of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery. “Artificial intelligence will truly change the future of medicine. Soon, access to scientific knowledge will undergo profound changes; Big Data will change the way health professionals work and artificial intelligence will be next method of consultation. This is not science fiction,� Vorontsov insisted. In parallel to its work in the field of artificial intelligence, MMG has recently initiated an ambitious project focused on quantum computing. This new line of research aims to develop algorithms that solve computational problems related to medicine impossible to manage until now with traditional computers. It is intended to use this type of computing in medicine, but it can be also applied to science in general and to the business world.

Quantum computing is aimed at information processing and solves unsolvable problems, such as the processing of massive sets of data. Quantum processing allows the management of huge amounts of information in a few minutes, something inconceivable with current technology. In a first phase, MMG will focus on treating medical information relating Physics and Medicine but does not rule out its application in other sectors.

MedsBla MedsBla’s main module is an encrypted communication system designed exclusively for the health sector. This platform complies with the General Data Protection Regula-

tion (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which is the strictest European and American legislation respectively. In this way, it allows healthcare professionals to share sensitive files in a completely secure manner. It also includes the semantic search engine based on AI technology and a series of useful tools for doctors. These include specialized news, medical calculators, a 3D anatomy system (BioDigital), a pharmacological guide, an online conference space, etc. The platform has a free version and a premium version, which organizations can subscribe to customize their spaces. All MMG technologies are also available for independent use.

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Acibadem University sets off with the objective of being a reputable university in health education, not only in Turkey but also in the world, is making a difference

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cibadem University, which was founded in 2007, is a thematic university in health sciences field. University is aiming to train full-fledged health professionals, who are open to continuous progress, by means of its outstanding academic staff and advanced technological infrastructure. University implements constant learning and improvement-oriented education policy, which is a model in education and research at national level, and it is shown as reference in the world. University consists of 5 faculties; School of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Faculty of Engineering and 2 vocational schools; Vocational School of Health Services and Vocational School and 3 institutions; Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Natural and Applied Sciences. University is affiliated with Acibadem University Atakent and

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Maslak Hospitals for clinical applications and on-site training. Acibadem University’s Board of Trustees Chairman Mehmet Ali Aydınlar sums up university’s journey of progress with these words: “Acibadem University is an institution founded with the objective of utilizing its over 25 years of health services knowledge and experience, in the education field. We have made a difference by integrating our pioneer and holistic perspective, which we have acquired through our experience in health field, to the education we offer. It is likely to notice that difference in all areas which are essential for students, such as campus, laboratories, teaching staff, social resources and etc. Because, we regard university years as an unabridged period of time, that spans the preparation of a student for every aspect of life.” Acibadem University Chancellor Professor Dr. Ahmet Sahin states that they proceed with the objective of being the best in Turkey in health

Professor Dr. Ahmet Sahin field as well as being among the most prominent universities globally in the same field. Professor Dr. Ahmet Sahin mentions that as of this year, university has over 4 thousand students and emphasizes that Acibadem University is an institution which has focused on health and indicates their goal as training qualified health professionals.

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

World’s Most Comprehensive Medical Simulation Center: CASE Acibadem University has CASE (Clinical Simulation and Advanced Endoscopic – Robotic Surgery Education Center), which happens to be the world’s most comprehensive medical education centers in its field with all its departments and technological infrastructure. In this center, where pre and postgraduate-oriented education programs are carried out, a special education model is applied with simulated patients, electronic learning, skill laboratories and advanced technology medical simulators. The center is comprised of two sections; Clinical Simulation Education Center and Advanced Endoscopic – Robotic Surgery Education Center. At Clinical Simulation Education Center, the applied education methodolgy is the combination of electronic learning, simulated patients and simulation applications. In Clinical Simulation Education Center, which is designed as a virtual hospital, students prepare for their internships in clinical educations by way of performing different crisis scenarios. Advanced Endoscopic – Robotic Surgery Education Center, which was established to improve the skillset of specialists in endoscopic and robotic surgery, houses postgraduation residency educations. CASE is accredited by Network of Accredited Clinical Skills Centers of Europe (NASCE) and Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH); moreover, it holds ‘Global Training Center’ title in robotic surgery field. CASE is one of the two medical simulation centers in the world, which has been awarded with ‘Center of Excellence’ honor, by CAE Healthcare Academy.

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Last January, a “Hysteroscopy & Laparoscopy” training session was given to specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology coming from Lebanon in Acıbadem University – CASE in Istanbul. This course was designed to be hands-on, with exposure to the latest instruments and minimal invasive techniques. Practical exercises are combined with lectures by experts and, depending on the course, live surgery sessions provided under the supervision of Prof. Mete Güngör, Head of School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics with a team of experts of Acıbadem Healthcare Group.

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Research-oriented University One of many principle areas of activity of Acibadem University is ‘Research’. University contributes to scientific development principally with researches in health, life sciences and biotechnology, by taking ‘benefit of the community’ into consideration; moreover carries out transnational research projects in collaboration with public/and private health institutions and industrial establishments. Within Kerem Aydinlar Campus, there are common areas for reasearchers to carry out their activities and also laboratories fitted out with technological infrastructure and equipment, which enable conduct of multidisciplinary researches. Also, there are 12 research and application centers in the universi-

ty for researches, applications and educational activities. Centers conduct research and application activities in numerous areas, including but not limited to health policies, rare diseases, fight against crime and violence and continuous education.

International University Acibadem University is a member of European Union’s Erasmus + Exchange Program. Within the scope of this program, students have education and/or internship opportunities, either for a month or two, at the affiliated European Universities and gain work experience in a different country.

A city university at the center of Istanbul Acibadem University is head-

quartered at Kerem Aydinlar Campus, which is situated on a 100,000-square-meter land. The campus, which was designed by an eco-friendly architectural concept that has LEED Gold – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificate, offers many academic and social opportunities for students. The conference hall in the campus, which is large enough to accommodate 750 participants, hosts national and international organizations every year. Sports Center within the campus is the ideal location for students to do sports, with its various facilities such as multi-purpose gym, semi-olympic swimming pool, fitness center, spinning and pilates studios. There are Student Clubs in the

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university with vast variety of interests, expanding from science to art. Clubs perform various activities throughout the year, in accordance with their area of interests. Acibadem University also provides accommodation for students both inside the campus and at Acibadem University Kerem Aydinlar Dormitory, which is within walking distance to the campus.

Support for new ideas and projects in health field: INCUBATION CENTER University endeavours to create suitable areas of activity for entrepreneurs, primarily for Acibadem University students, to actualize their thoughts, ideas and projects in health field. Acibadem University Incubation

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Center, which was founded in 2017, aims to support all kinds of technology based business ideas and ventures, that would serve to improve health sector. Center supports entrepreneurs’ learning, application and work-planning processes. Along with their educations, entrepreneurs also receive Acibadem University Academicians’ consultation support while benefitting from university’s technological infrastructure and laboratories. Entrepreneurs also have the opportunity of receiving consultation from companies and partner institutions which are affiliated with the university. There is also support provided for maturing ventures’ transition to positive value, introduction to investors and commercialization. Even though the center is in

service merely for 2 years, it is already providing support for more than 100 projects.

Close collaboration with health sector University’s clinical applications and on-site trainings take place at Acibadem University Atakent and Maslak Hospitals, which are affiliated with Acibadem University. At the same time, university also cooperates with various public hospitals, in accordance with the protocols in effect. By virtue of its close collaboration with Acibadem Health Group, Acibadem University has internship priority in group’s hospitals. Acibadem Health Group has 22 hospitals and 16 medical centers in 4 countries.

MEDICAL LABORATORY

Sysmex solutions For over 40 years, we have set new standards and driven innovation in haematology and our other areas of expertise

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ysmex Middle East FZ-LLC has grown to become one of the Middle East region’s leading diagnostic suppliers with a reputation for high-quality products, service and reliability. Our automated hematology analyzers provide market-leading diagnostics to hospital laboratories across the Middle East area. One of our main features is that we love knowledge. And we love applying it in smart ways to create unique solutions that really help people, our clients and our partners. We’re actively expanding our expertise and are already breaking new ground in such diverse fields as coagulation and urinalysis, life science, biosciences, near patient testing and automation. Whatever we do, we believe having a profound understanding of one’s activities is essential. Like said, we love knowledge.

SYSMEX’S INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS Sysmex products are unique.They reflect our drive for excellence and our profound love of knowledge. We are very aware of the fact that we can and do make a genuine positive contribution to our domains in the healthcare industry, and therefore to the health of individuals. We therefore want our products to solve real issues. Make people’s lives better. And make the working life of those who use our products easier.

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Sysmex® XN-Series Automated Hematology Analyzers Sysmex’s new XN-Series Automated Hematology Analyzers are built on a breakthrough concept known as Silent Design®, providing new possibilities for any lab regardless of size and throughput. This simplified system of operation and user interface, based on careful study of operator interaction with instrumentation and laboratory sample processing, supports the smooth interaction between people and the XN-Series in very important ways including: an expanded parameter menu for your lab’s evolving clinical needs; configurable modularity for your lab’s workflow needs; and a reagent handling system that saves time and storage space. Best of all, Silent Design creates analyzers that you like to use and know you can trust.

parameters, more efficient operations or greater financial return, the Sysmex XN-Series has a configuration for you.

Sysmex® UN-Series: The Modular Way Of Urinalysis

The XN-Series includes the XN-1000™, XN-2000™, XN-3000™ and XN-9000™. These configurations are built by coupling XN analysis module(s) in the configuration that best manages your total hematology workload. Regardless of which configuration you choose, each highly productive system operates identically and efficiently. The configurable modularity also gives you the flexibility to change system configurations as your clinical and operational needs evolve. Whether your lab needs additional

The new UF-5000 and UF-4000, based on our globally renowned fluorescence flow cytometry and with body fluid analysis available at the flick of a switch, will benefit laboratories of any size. Our UC-3500 is a fully automated chemistry analyzer that takes test strip analysis further, with both microalbumin and creatinine analysis on board. For smaller workloads, the semi-automated chemistry analyzer UC-1000 is the right choice, whether used integrated or stand-alone. Adding our digital imaging unit, the UD-10 provides a seamless urinalysis workflow – from sample entry to a digital image. To round off the offering, we have a new U-WAM for sample management and CV-11 for sample transport. With our UN-Series we cover the complete urinalysis workflow while offering maximum flexibility: You can select your solution to set up the workflow as you need it. Whatever your choice, it means there will be no more hands-on urinalysis as the whole process is automated. Finally, you get all the results on one screen, with all data centralized in one workstation.

XN-1500

XN-1500

The XN-Series Family of Configurations

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Sysmex® RD-210 OSNA – Advanced platform for analyzing lymph nodes Nodal status matters More differentiated information – Supporting better treatment decisions. Lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic factors in many cancers and a key criterion for surgical and therapeutic decisions. Analyzing lymph node tissue reliably and accuracy is therefore crucial for detecting metastases. Routine practice in histopathology analyses only a limited amount of tissue and therefore provides only limited information, which might not reflect the real metastatic burden.

tify Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA expression. CK19 is an epithelial cell marker and is not normally present in lymph node tissue. The expression rate of CK19 mRNA correlates with the size of the metastatic foci.

Sysmex®CyFlow Cube 6 Compact and economic flow cytometer

OSNA – One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification – is an automated molecular diagnostic assay that analyses the entire lymph node tissue. The reaction is based on rapid nucleic acid amplification technology (RT-LAMP*) to quan-

The CyFlow Cube 6 is a compact benchtop flow cytometer for the analysis of individual cells and microscopic particles. Different CyFlow Cube 6 configurations to select from offering optimal solutions for dedicated applications. The easy-to-use CyFlow software provides control of the instrument, data acquisition, analysis and storage. CyFlow Cube 6 offers True Volumetric Absolute Counting (TVAC), which allows the display of particle concentrations for any subsets of cells without the need for reference beads, even if defined by a gate at a later time after the acquisition.

RD-210

CyFlow Cube 6

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N EE Y ITIO FR TRXHIB N E

E E TH

TO IN

2019 18-19 March | Olympia London

Speaker line-up includes:

The Rt Hon. Lord Drayson, Former Minister of Science, UK Parliament

Exhibition of 350+ brands

Paul Jobson, Managing Director, UKIHMA

Future Healthcare Conference

Health Tech Theatre

Amanda Begley, Director of Innovation, University College London

Wearables Zone

Simon Stevens, Chief Executive, NHS England

UKIHMA Workshops

Innovation Awards

Sam Shah, Director for Digital Development, NHS England

Thrive Wearables Theatre

DON’T MISS the UK’s largest exhibition and conference showcasing products and services for future healthcare.

REGISTER TODAY AT

WWW.FUTUREHEALTHCAREUK.COM

Organised in association with

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Carestream Awarded Best in KLAS for Vue PACS in the Middle East/Africa The Company also Earns Top KLAS Ratings for Vendor-Neutral Archive And Universal Viewer

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arestream Health earned top ratings from healthcare providers in three KLAS categories: Best in KLAS PACS Middle East/Africa, Best in KLAS VNA/Image Archive, and Category Leader in Universal Viewer for the second consecutive year. These awards were published in the 2019 Best in KLAS: Software and Services report issued on January 31, 2019.

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KLAS is an independent research organization that monitors healthcare vendor performance. Best in KLAS awards are based on user scores compiled from feedback of thousands of healthcare providers at clinics, hospitals and local, regional and national healthcare systems. Carestream has earned the trust of PACS customers across the Middle

East and Africa with successful PACS projects implementation spanning from clinics and single hospitals to large networks and even to entire regions. Medical providers large and small are upgrading their radiology and IT systems using Carestream’s latest solutions. In 2018, Carestream successfully implemented the first PACS Cloud Services project in the

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Carestream’s General Manager for Healthcare Information Solutions. “These awards also recognize our employees for their hard work and professionalism in serving customers around the globe.”

Middle East in Jordan. The company is in the process of duplicating this success in other countries in the region. Carestream has earned eight KLAS awards in the past six years for its CARESTREAM Vue PACS, CARESTREAM Vue Motion universal viewer and CARESTREAM Vue Archive. “Achieving top scores in these categories highlights our success in meeting customer needs by providing world-class systems and services that consistently received high marks from users,” said Ludovic d’Aprea,

The following quotes from users of Carestream systems can be found on the KLAS web site: “Carestream Vue Archive is a good, standardized product. Carestream is thoughtful about how they plan out upgrades and new features. They have a great application team to support their product” and “Carestream offers a great, fully fledged product that works for multiple users. The system has many functions to meet the needs of any facility.” A user of the company’s Vue Motion viewer reports that “Carestream’s executives are very engaged. The radiologists and referring physicians love the options and flexibility they get from Vue Motion. It is easy to use and we have advanced tools that we can use without being at a workstation; our clinicians love that.”

KLAS KLAS is a data-driven company

on a mission to improve the world’s healthcare by enabling provider and payer voices to be heard and counted. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals, KLAS collects insights on software, service and medical equipment to deliver reports, trending data and statistical overviews. KLAS data is accurate, honest and impartial. The research directly reflects the voice of healthcare professionals and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. To learn more about KLAS visit www.klasresearch.com

Carestream Health Carestream is a worldwide provider of medical imaging systems and IT solutions; X-ray imaging systems for non-destructive testing; and precision contract coating services for a wide range of industrial, medical, electronic and other applications— all backed by a global service and support network. For more information about the company’s broad portfolio of products, solutions and services, please contact your Carestream representative or visit www.carestream.com

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Patients & healthcare workers at the centre of everything BD does

BD’s Culture of Safety at Arab Health 2019: ‘Safety Flows Through Me’

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afety should flow through every person and system to ensure high-quality care throughout the patient’s treatment journey. With this vision in mind, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) a leading global medical technology company, is the partner of choice to deliver “valuebased healthcare” to help address the challenges healthcare workers face in patient safety with enterprise-wide medication management solutions.

Together, we can help prevent medication errors Medication errors can occur at any

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stage of the medication management process; though estimates vary across studies and countries, medication errors are responsible for millions of adverse events worldwide. With this understanding, BD offers a unique combination of connective technologies, analytics and expert services to support ongoing efforts to develop a culture of safety worldwide by helping to optimize the medication management process, increasing clinician performance and efficiency, and standardizing workflows, processes and procedures. At Arab Health 2019, BD

introduced new advancements with a focus on helping healthcare workers improve patient safety outcomes and crafting workflow efficiencies in every part of the medication administration process. The journey of every medication and every medication order in the hospital system could be experienced in five distinct but interrelated areas on the BD booth. The journey begins with a BD Ambassador white-boarding a bespoke solution with each visitor to match their facility’s needs, but with the constant overarching

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goal of achieving zero waste and zero errors through inventory optimization, device interoperability, and application of the company’s unique approach to enterprise-wide medication management. After this tailoring and a brief description of the BD solution components each client would be guided to the various stations highlighted as meeting their particular needs during the initial tailored planning. Pharmacy solutions are presented for both inpatient and outpatient environments with BD RowaTM solutions for automated storage and retrieval of medications. The BD Rowa advantages with the potential to reduce the relative risk of an error by more than 7 times in the preparation

of orders and dispensing meds 2,5 times faster3 are shown through an interactive VR environment. The BD Rowa VmotionTM shows how providing a clear display for outpatient and community pharmacies is also possible via a ‘virtual, cloud-based steered approach visualizing remedies, using large multi-touch screens that require no rearranging, tidying, or restocking. The latest addition to nursing unit storage and dispensing of medications, the BD PyxisTM ES Refrigerator, with its features of locked bins for secure individual storage of refrigerated medications with temperature monitoring capabilities and its integration into the BD PyxisTM MedStationTM ES, with its long-established patient-centred

workflow, is the next part of the chain from pharmacy to patient for non-IV medications. The ability of the ES Refrigerator to send notifications to BD HealthSightTM Viewer, a near realtime pharmacy operations dashboard that summarizes and prioritizes key notifications from BD medication management technologies, both helps to ensure that sensitive and expensive medications and vaccines are stored at appropriate temperature conditions and also shows the ‘joined-up-thinking’ that underpins all of BD’s medication management solutions. A major theme of BD’s medication management solutions is also how each element of the chain is connected via BD PyxisTM Logistics software for

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BD RowaTM technology solutions comprehensive inventory management and tracking of medications. Physically, this is shown to visitors using the BD CUBIEs that allow secure ‘pockets’ of medications to be transported and inserted in Pyxis ES devices and to be mapped by the central pharmacy. The non-IV medication administration chain is completed at the bedside by BD’s strategic agreement with HumanscaleTM and the MedSync medication delivery cart, creating an integrated workflow with the BD Pyxis ES System via the MedSync AutoAssign software which allows for a seamless transfer and tracking of individual patients’ medications from the Pyxis ES to the MedSync cart. The 5 Rights: patient, drug, dose, timing, and documentation are completed via a bar-code medication administration process.

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The offering for the operating room of BD PyxisTM SupplyStationTM RF and the BD Pyxis AnesthesiaTM Station ES gives visibility into the supply chain performance and helps ensure the constant availability of anaesthesia vital drugs. The IV medication compounding to patient administration chain begins with BD Pyxis IV Prep and the station dedicated to this solution highlights the real-time gravimetric verification of all compounded drugs, the barcode application to medication identification and the electronic documentation and automated audit trail of each compounded solution that leaves the pharmacy. At the infusion administration station, customers could experience the intravenous medication solution to complete the 5 Medication ‘Rights’

with the BD AlarisTM Pump Modules, and see live demonstrations of closedloop medication administration, with orders being sent directly from the patient’s Electronic Medication Administration Record to the pump, ensuring the right patient, right drug, right dose, right rate, and right documentation via a barcode medication administration process. Also showcased are the BD AlarisTM Plus pumps for critical care with BD’s unique in-line pressure monitoring system for accurate and sensitive occlusion or infusion interruption alarms, and impressive and flexible Drug Error Reduction Software. To complement the AlarisTM Plus pumps the new BD AlarisTM MRI Capsule is shown for the first time. The Capsule allows the seamless transfer of patients receiving critical short half-

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life medications such as vasoactive and inotropic drugs from the ICU to the MRI suite without the addition of long lines, thus reducing the risk of Central Line Hospital Acquired Infections, reducing preparation for nursing staff and ensuring infusion2 continuity. Visitors could view and discuss BD Alaris Infusion Central, a central monitoring platform that assists nursing staff to identify critical infusion alarms quickly and has been shown to reduce reaction time to critical short half-life infusion interruption by up to 31 percent and reduce specific infusion alarms by up to 66 percent.1 Arab Health 2019 was a very engaging and world-class platform to share how BD has the knowledge, insight, skills and experience to become a key partner in supporting healthcare workers to improve patient safety. BD technologies, solutions and services can help build and maintain a culture of patient safety.

Scanning patient’s wristband

BD AlarisTM MRI Capsule - Continuity of IV

BD PyxisTM IV Prep

References: 1. Bastanie et Al. Alarm visibility and infusion continuity: environmental change and technology assistance. Journal of Pediatric and Neonatal Individualized Medicine 2017;6(2). 2 BD internal time and motion study 2018. 3. O. François1,2, M. Aussedat1, L. Carrez1,2, L. Gschwind1, P. Bonnabry1,2 - Robotisation et scanning de la distribution globale des médicaments: impact sur le taux d’erreur et l’efficience – 18 au 20 mai 2016

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INTERVIEW

CEO and Founder of TheSocialMedwork

Sjaak Vink “We truly believe that everybody deserves equal and fair access to the latest and best healthcare”

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heSocialMedwork is a social enterprise helping people everywhere access the latest medicines more quickly. Their products reflect the latest scientific advances in managing serious conditions. “Hospitals” magazine had the privilege to meet with Mr. Sjaak Vink, CEO and Founder of TheSocialMedwork, to talk about his career leading up to the creation of this social enterprise, how he manages to overcome various challenges as well as the future of health access, among others. Here is the full interview:

Tell us about your career leading up to the creation of TheSocialMedwork. What made you switch from building successful marketing agencies to founding companies with social impact? I was born and raised by an entrepreneurial family of shopkeepers, farmers and business owners and although I did not realize it at the time, I would follow their footsteps sooner than I expected. At 27, after spending most of my early professional career at multinationals, I decided that it was time to choose a different path and take a risk. I first ventured into advertising

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and created my first consultancy specialised in lifestyle, fashion and sports branding. The instant success of Het Stormt was the catalyst for a series of booming organisations that I went on to found or co-found, including a guerilla-marketing agency, an event agency and a multimedia company. The three entities then merged into a fully fledged service company gaining even greater industry recognition. Fast forward several years and I was an entrepreneur to the core. I had worked very hard on establishing myself and I enjoyed the quality of life I had achieved as well as the comfort it provided. However far I strived, I could not

shake the gut feeling that there were alternative ventures that could better the world in other possible ways. Slowly but surely it felt like I was heading in the right direction. In 2011, as a member of the global Entrepreneurs Organization, I was invited to organise an educational event for successful young entrepreneurs. We chose the theme ‘Amsterdam Change the World Conference’. Over 600 global entrepreneurs attended this Amsterdam-based event committing their companies, passions and desires to effecting positive change in the world around them. During this time I experienced a crushing blow: I lost a close child-

INTERVIEW

hood friend to cancer. This drove me to channel my time and energy into projects for social impact and change. Projects like The Virus Participation, a consultancy and investment firm focused on social impact and sustainability. This was how I found my true calling and dedicated my life to social, educational and environmental challenges. Shortly after, I lost my dear friend Stephan to ALS. His only wish was to have ‘more tomorrows’ with his loved ones, but he could not get access to quality-of-life improving medicines that weren’t approved in his home country. It was here, under the direction of Professor Dick van Bekkum, founder of Cinderella, that I learned of the complexities surrounding approval and access to innovative medicines. And thus came to existence another venture known as myTomorrows, a social enterprise that helps patients gain early access to experimental drugs undergoing clinical trial through compassionate use laws. After speaking at multiple conferences all over the world and particularly in the US, I became heavily involved in patient advocacy groups such as the Abigail Alliance in Washington D.C. and Chicago based, Cures Within Reach. In 2013, as I became aware of the stark geographical injustice of medicine approvals, I began advocating for access to medication on behalf of several melanoma cancer patients in Europe. They all passed away before ever getting access to the treatments they needed. Treatments that were actually already approved and available in the US. The lack of harmonisation between drug approval and availability that I witnessed on a personal and global level throughout the years culminated in the founding of LoveSteve,

honoring my late friend Stephan’s struggle, later changed to TheSocialMedwork in 2014. And look where we are now. We’ve been delivering thousands of elsewhere approved urgently needed medicines to doctors and patients in over 70 countries.

The idea of providing access to treatments everywhere in the world is very appealing and surely difficult. How do you manage to overcome all the different legal, geographic and logistic challenges that come with such an ambitious endeavour? TheSocialMedwork provides access to new medicines on the Named Patient import basis (personal import) or early access import scheme (cohort import) regulations that are available in almost every country in the world. These regulations allow every citizen and healthcare provider to legally import an elsewhere approved treatment into their country of residence. We are a premium service and owe our success to a highly qualified and skilled multicultural team which includes doctors, pharmacists, medical industry experts, scientists, regulatory experts and lawyers. They are all equipped to provide patients, doctors and hospitals with highly customised support and information to enable them to make an informed decision about the best course of treatment. Our main focus is on the latest innovative medicines in oncology, neurology and rare diseases. We work on behalf of the patient in cooperation with their treating doctor or on behalf of expert hospital pharmacies and professors at such centers of excellence. We oversee the entire process of sourcing and delivering the med-

icine so that the patient, doctor or pharmacy does not have to. In every case, patients must possess a prescription from their treating doctor based in their country of residence. Treatment responsibility should always be with the treating doctor. Our patients can choose between picking up their medicine from one of our trusted pharmacies or they may wish to sign a consent form to have it shipped to their location via our network of secured logistics partners. For centers of excellence who want to work with the latest innovative medicines from around the world, we have an end-to-end solution including delivery to the hospital pharmacy. The entire process can take 2 to 4 weeks and we are very proud to have a 100% delivery success rate anywhere in the world. Some medicines are not easily available, so the process of getting the medicine and having it delivered to your country can be difficult. But along the way we keep you informed about the delivery status. The first step is to work with each patient in order to include all of the legal documents that are required for a smooth export and import process. Different countries have different regulations for importing medicines, so we ensure that the documentation we affix is relevant to each country. When it comes to the import and customs clearance logistics, we use our knowledge, connections and experience in global medical shipping in order to process the order as quickly as possible.

What can you tell us about the high cost of medicines on your website? The cost of each medicine is determined by its manufacturer. Patient-centered and globally proactive in our sourcing, we continually

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negotiate the best possible prices with our providers and are often able to secure the lowest prices around the world. To cover our operating costs we apply a small margin of 3 - 15%, which has an inverse adaptive application (meaning we charge less on more expensive medicines and more on the cheapest ones; currently our cheapest medicine is Calcort at €75.00), as well as a global access expert fee. Our global access expert fee covers high-quality sourcing, specialised logistics, customs clearance and regulatory expertise to make sure the needed medicines are received in good order. The team’s sole focus is to make the access to the treatment as smooth as possible every step of the way for the patient and their doctor. TheSocialMedwork tackles the issues surrounding accessibility, affordability and reimbursement on a daily basis. We are very lucky to have industry experts like Rotterdam Erasmus University professor Prof. Carin Uyl-de Groot, who published a fair pricing algorithm in The Lancet, on our advisory board. We are also very proud to have former EU-commissioner, Neelie Kroes as our supervisory board president, herself a member of Salesforce’s Board of Directors, as well as Uber’s Public Policy Advisory Board. During her tenure, she avidly fought unfair industry monopolies by heavily penalising global players who misused their position within their markets. She joined TheSocialMedwork supervisory board because she is an avid supporter of our mission of global access to health. We truly believe that everybody deserves equal and fair access to the latest and best healthcare no matter who they are or where they live, and that health should be a universal right

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as it enables personal freedom and opportunity. Our focus is to keep growing rapidly in order to be able to exert more pressure on medicine pricing with the support of our global patient community.

Do you receive many requests from the Arab world? How do you think TheSocialMedwork can help patients in this particular region? We have noticed an increase in requests coming from all over the Middle East and Gulf regions, specifically from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates over the past few months. This further solidifies the fact that access to the most innovative treatments is a global challenge experienced by patients, doctors, professors and centers of excellence all over the world. We plan to do our utmost to spread our message and mission in order to help as many patients in the Arab world as possible. I’d like to personally thank the Arab Hospitals Magazine for this interview, as opportunities like these will only help us raise more awareness about our high-end expert service for center of excellence hospitals and their well-informed patients.

If you had the power to change one thing in the health industry today, what would it be? If I could change one thing, it would be to transform the current fragmented and decentralised process of medicine approval to achieve a harmonised system where everyone in the world can instantly access treatments as soon as they are approved. It is not acceptable that people in the 21st century are still unable to easily access treatments they urgently need just because of where they live.

How do you foresee the future of health access and how does TheSocialMedwork fit into this vision? Health is the foundation of life. I am optimistic about the future of access to healthcare. I picture TheSocialMedwork becoming a universal health platform where knowledge is shared with everyone. Every civilisation in the world will have basic access to the best healthcare including the latest diagnostics and medicines. Meanwhile, we will be working shoulder to shoulder with the best global health experts from the Arab world and beyond. As we say at TheSocialMedwork: ‘Health is the new wealth’.

UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF

H.E. SHEIKH DR. BASEL HAMOUD AL-SABAH

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MINISTER OF HEALTH - KUWAIT

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Virtual Reality

How Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Affect the Healthcare Sector?

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Virtual Reality

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lobal industry experts predict that Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in healthcare will increase to $ 3.8 billion by 2020. The industry is witnessing a tangible change for the better with the use of Virtual Reality technologies. This shows a change in the lives of professionals and patients alike. This new technology can promote improved medical procedures and provide a level of education that helps patients recover. Many technology control specialists predict that VR technologies can make dramatic changes in several fields as well as in the work mechanism of many sectors. Forecast results have shown that VR technology market value will rise to $ 80 billion by 2025. It is known that virtual reality technology is still emerging. Over the next few years, pharmaceutical and consumer brands are expected to invest in healthcare, where benefits and data become available. There is some data that already show support for the use of virtual reality as a treatment to relieve the pain of painful wounds. Virtual “SnowWorld”, for instance, helps severe burn victims to play snow games and cope with extreme pain while changing their bandages.

Virtual Reality in Medicine In April 2016, an operation was performed at the Royal London hospital to remove cancerous tissue from a male patient’s bowel for the first time using a 360-degree virtual reality camera. The operation could be viewed through the “VR in OR” app, using a virtual reality headset that can be paired with a smartphone. Those who did not have a headset could watch the feed live online. This approach is a shift in the course of medical education. The

technology brings a valuable new feature to education, allowing viewers to focus not just on what the surgeon is doing, but also on what other members of the team are up to. It is known that augmented reality works with smartphones. It is expected to have a stronger future. Augmented reality technology can enter the healthcare industry at different levels. In augmented reality, users see and interact with the real world while digital content is added to it. EyeDecide uses Augmented Reality to enhance patient education and understanding: an example of augmented reality in patient education. Using apps like EyeDecide, doctors can show simulation of the vision of a patient suffering from a specific condition. For instance, the app can demonstrate the impact of Cataract or AMD and thus helping patients understand their symptoms and their actual medical state. If patients can experience the long-term effects of their lifestyle on their health, it could motivate people to make positive changes. Charities are also using VR technology such as the National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom, which released a virtual reality film to convey the life of autistic patients. Also, the Migraine Experience created by the pharmaceutical company Excedrin. They used virtual reality headsets to show friends, family members, and coworkers of individuals with migraine exactly what type of symptoms come with that individual’s migraines with virtual reality headset and asked them to manage a normal day while dealing with these symptoms. A virtual reality headset allows users to interact with simulated environments and experience a first-person view. VR headsets replace the user’s

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natural environment with virtual reality content, such as a movie, a game or a prerecorded 360-degree VR environment that allows the user to turn and look around, just as in the physical world. VR technology isn’t just useful for gaming. It has been shown to help in a variety of applications, from military training activities to treatment for anxiety disorders and phobias to functioning as an art form. Another application where VR shows a lot of promise is stroke recovery. Virtual Reality has emerged as a new approach to treatment in stroke rehabilitation settings over the last ten years. By simulating real-life activities, stroke patients are able to work on self-care skills in a setting that is usually impossible to create in a hospital environment. After a stroke, mass practice, task-oriented arm training of the upper and lower limbs can help the brain “re-program” itself and form new neural connections. These new connections stimulate recovery of motor skills in patients following stroke. So VR may be useful to augment rehabilitation of the upper and lower limbs in patients suffering from stroke and other neurological injuries.

The future in a new perspective The first applications of virtual reality began at NASA, however, they spread to include many fields such as medicine, architecture, education, training, aeronautics, engineering, military and entertainment in order to meet the needs of these fields of virtual reality applications, and solve many of their problems. Experts expect that the introduction of virtual reality technology and augmented reality on the healthcare industry will have a major impact on the improvement of the industry, the prosperity of its future and its development. Virtual reality software can reach high levels

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of superior training and is consistent with immersive VR experiences. Thanks to virtual reality, surgeons can now spend much more time practicing operations in realistic simulations. This is good news for patients. The more time surgeons spend learning and honing their skills, the more effective they’ll be when treating real people. With the development of this industry, there are attempts to integrate virtual reality with artificial intelligence technology and analysis of large data, which in turn will create new ways of training, education and treatment. Robotics, artificial intelligence and virtual reality are sectors that have a major impact on health-

care in communities. Healthcare is the second largest sector employing virtual reality technology, with a market value of $ 5.1 billion. This technology is employed in several uses, including surgery, robot-assisted surgeries, and skill training without exposing the patient to any real risk.

A virtual reality that simulates reality Virtual Reality is expected to be applied more widely and closer to implementation at present. In 2009, an invention - developed by scientists from the Universities of York and Warwick – was published and funded. It is a device that puts you in a virtual

ARTICLE FEATURES . Virtual Reality

world, which is the closest thing to reality, in order to make you see, hear, smell, taste, and even touch what you see. This project has been called “Towards Real Virtuality”. They are developing a headset that will simulate all five human senses. A number of applications have been suggested for the technology, including virtual tourism, and the EPSRC gives the example of finding out what it was like to live in Ancient Egypt, including the look, sound and smell of the streets. The team aims to make the Virtual Cocoon as light and comfortable as possible, especially in comparison with existing Virtual Reality headsets, and “optimize the way all

five senses interact, as in real life.” Based on this concept, virtual reality technology can be applied in the medical field, which is essential and helps greatly in medical procedures. In a virtual experiment, patients will be able to do the required procedures, and the patients can imagine that they are actually in front of the doctor. “We’re trying to portray different kinds of medical conditions, sensory changes from the first-person perspective of a patient,” said Carrie Shaw, a master’s student in biomedical visualization and content creator of the case study titled, “We Are Alfred.” Their goal was to craft an interactive, experiential product that could be used for curriculum in geriatrics — the health and care of elderly people — because of predicted growth in future U.S. aging populations and a disconnect between patients and the students or doctors who treat them. But despite all these advantages and the revolution in the medical world as a result of this development, it is not devoid of fears. What are they?

3D Printing in the Healthcare Industry 3D printers are a kind of robot, which can do anything in 3D, whatever its shape. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of raw material until the object is created. Although the process of 3D printing takes at least 30 minutes, which may be long in emergency health situations, the technique opens up new doors for patients, benefiting at least 50,000 people around the world through surgical instruments made through 3D printing, according to Modern Healthcare, in addition to helping patients directly by printing organs or tissues. The technology offers

new opportunities for growth in the health sector, according to a report by VisionGEN, a marketing research firm in London, the projected value of the global healthcare printing market will reach more than $ 4 billion, while IDTechEx expects the market itself to reach $ 868 million by 2025. With this development, 3D printing is becoming more and more used in the medical industry. This technology is a real game changer and surgeons are really making the most of additive manufacturing. Actually, 3D printing can now be used for knee replacement, dentures, etc. The Royal London hospital recently performed an operation on a cancer patient that was live-streamed around the world using virtual reality technology designed to make viewers feel as if they are in the operating theatre. Virtual reality technologies are believed to be able to raise the efficiency of the healthcare sector and enhance the level of surgical training worldwide. The latest medical MRI device, the first of its kind in Dubai and the Middle East, has recently been introduced. MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. With a traditional MRI, the patient lies down and must remain motionless in the machine’s enclosed narrow tunnel. With an upright MRI, there are two large magnetized plates on either side of the patient, who can sit or stand. It is thought to be particularly useful for spinal and musculoskeletal problems, because patients can be examined in various weight-bearing positions, such as sitting, standing or bending over, which put pressure on muscles, bones and joints. The device is currently used in France, Italy, Germany, Britain and soon in Dubai.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Scoliosis

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Scoliosis

S

coliosis is a three-dimensional abnormality that occurs when the spine becomes rotated and curved sideways. Most often this condition has no known cause, in which case it is called idiopathic scoliosis. While the cause is unknown, idiopathic scoliosis does tend to run in families. The specific genes involved have not all been identified yet, and there could be factors beyond genetics as well. Adolescence is when rapid growth typically occurs, which is why the detection of a curve at this stage should be monitored closely for progression as the child’s skeleton develops. Signs and symptoms of scoliosis may include uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other, uneven waist and one hip higher than the other. If a scoliosis curve gets worse, the spine will also rotate or twist, in addition to curving side to side. This causes the ribs on one side of the body to stick out farther than on the other side. Early detection of scoliosis is most important for successful treatment. Doctors don’t know what causes the most common type of scoliosis — although it appears to involve hereditary factors, because the disorder tends to run in families. Less common types of scoliosis may be caused by neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, birth defects affecting the development of the bones of the spine and injuries to or infections of the spine. Although both boys and girls develop mild scoliosis at about the same rate, girls have a much higher risk of the curve worsening and requiring treatment. The doctor will initially take a detailed medical history and may ask questions about recent growth. During the physical exam, your doctor

may have your child stand and then bend forward from the waist, with arms hanging loosely, to see if one side of the rib cage is more prominent than the other. Your doctor may also perform a neurological exam to check for muscle weakness, numbness and abnormal reflexes. Idiopathic scoliosis is usually first identified during a regular checkup with a pediatrician or a routine screening at school; or perhaps a parent or teacher happens to notice and comments on the possible sideways curvature of the spine. An official diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis requires X-ray confirmation of the abnormal lateral curvature and spinal rotation, as well as ruling out other possible causes for the deformity (such as Scheuermann’s disease,

NORMAL

THORACIC

juvenile disc disorder, or ankylosing spondylitis). Once the condition is detected, you should immediately go to a specialist to get an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment in order to stop further progression of the disease. Then the doctor determines the type of scoliosis in the child. The standard screening test for scoliosis is the “Adam’s forward bend test.” During the test, your child will bend forward with feet together, knees straight and arms hanging free. Your doctor will observe your child from the back, looking for a difference in the shape of the ribs on each side. A spinal deformity is most noticeable in this position. With your child standing upright, your doctor will also check to see if

THORACOLUMBAR

LUMBAR

DOUBLE CURVE

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the hips and shoulders are level, and if the position of the head is centered over the hips. He or she will check the movement of the spine in all directions. To rule out other causes of spinal deformity, your doctor will check for limb-length discrepancies, abnormal neurological findings, and other physical problems. Scoliosis patients are classified in different types

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according to age of onset, severity and type of curve. Therefore, the doctor determines the type of scoliosis, depending on the type and location of spinal curvature.

The cause of idiopathic scoliosis is unknown. There are three types of idiopathic scoliosis: •

Infantile: This type of scoliosis

•

•

occurs from birth to age 3. The curve of the vertebrae is to the left and it is more commonly seen in boys. Typically, the curve resolves as the child grows. Juvenile: Juvenile scoliosis occurs in children between ages 3 and 10. Adolescent: This type of

ARTICLE FEATURES . Scoliosis

scoliosis occurs in children between ages 10 and 18. This is the most common type of scoliosis and is more commonly seen in girls.

Treatment Researchers have shown that a rod that lengthens under magnetic control can effectively treat the spinal curvature seen in children with scoliosis. The approach is much less invasive than existing rod-based therapies, which require repeated invasive surgeries and hospitalization every six months. The magnetically controlled growing rod can be adjusted in outpatient visits, minimizing scarring, pain, time away from school and burden on parents. While there are guidelines for mild, moderate and severe curves, the decision to begin treatment is always made on an individual basis. Factors to be considered include severity of curve - larger curves are more likely to worsen with time, curve pattern - double curves, also known as S-shaped curves, tend to worsen more often than do C-shaped curves, location of curve – curves located in the center section of the spine worsen more often than do curves in the upper or lower sections of the spine. Maturity - if a child’s bones have stopped growing, the risk of curve progression

is low. That also means that braces have the most effect in children whose bones are still growing. If the scoliosis is progressing rapidly at a young age, surgeons can install a rod that can adjust in length as the child grows. This growing rod is attached to the top and bottom sections of the spinal curvature, and is usually lengthened every six months.

much and helps you attain the perfect posture.

Scoliosis Exercise

Spine release

Exercise is the best way to strengthen and straighten the physical posture and avoid curvature on one side. But, when it comes to scoliosis, you have to be a little more mindful about the exercises you choose to do. Breathing exercises (like taking deep breaths) can provide temporary relief, but is not an effective remedy. Doing yoga, which does help to give the muscles some balance, is not the go-to solution in case of scoliosis.

This is an excellent exercise to correct your posture and the spinal curvature.

Bird dog stretching Take a gym ball. Lay down with your tummy on the ball and support your body with your toes. Now, lift your left leg up and right hand up. Hold for 3 seconds. Put your left leg and right hand down. Now, lift your right leg up and left hand up. Hold for 3 seconds. Put them down. Repeat this 10 times. It is a very beneficial exercise for beginners as it doesn’t hurt

Pilates It’s the starting point of the Scoliosis exercise regime. This can be done lying down or standing with the support of a wall. It helps in building strength and posture. This enhances the resistance power of the patient.

Schroth Method The Schroth Method is one of the best innovations of Germany, and has helped many.

Hip Roll and Bridge Hip Roll and Bridge as an exercise inclines one’s pelvis area, raising your vertebrae to form a full circle, and lets the hip move, which is a must if you have scoliosis.

Scoliosis breathing exercise Breathing in deeply helps to facilitate blood circulation.

Scoliosis yoga This is a very good spine strengthening and relaxing exercise. This will also help cure backache.

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Job Satisfaction Among Healthcare Professionals in Bahrain: An Empirical Study Professor Mukhtar Al-Hashimi Ahlia University – Bahrain

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ob satisfaction is a crucial element for all employees in any organization, and plays a significant role in the productivity and loyalty of employees. Job Satisfaction has been defined in numerous different ways; however, the author of this article decided to adopt the E. A. Locke definition of job satisfaction as “a pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job experiences.” Within the healthcare sector, patient satisfaction is mostly linked to the quality of healthcare received. This is a critical parameter that influences one’s attitude toward one’s job, which impacts not only motivation but also productivity and the relationship between co-workers. In summary job,

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satisfaction has a significant effect on quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and commitment to work. Research around job satisfaction indicates a positive correlation between job satisfaction and overall performance at work. Some scholars underline the relationship between job satisfaction and employees’ health problems, such as physical, mental, motivational, as well as absenteeism. These problems may lead to a decrease in productivity, high employee turnover, and sometimes even significantly affect the organization’s competitive advantage in the long-term. Other empirical studies have stipulated that maintaining a high-level of employee satisfaction will lead employ-

ees to be proactive, have a positive attitude, be more committed, and have the confidence to perform well at work. Relevant literature highlights that job satisfaction is comprised of internal and external dimensions. Internal satisfaction includes attributes such as feeling happy, excited, and accomplished with regards to job responsibilities, as well as feeling optimistic about one’s career path; while external satisfaction encompasses the feelings of joy obtained from salary, benefits, social recognition, and job advancement. Similarly, various research studies aimed at investigating the relationship between job satisfaction and quality of care delivered, as well as the barriers to quality care among

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healthcare professionals have been conducted. Upon review of these empirical studies, researchers concluded that a positive correlation between overall job satisfaction and quality of care delivered among healthcare providers exits. Mainly workload, staff scheduling, stress, poor management, and inadequate training were found to be the factors that negatively affect quality of care. Furthermore, researchers also found that compensation, work environment, stress, and patient satisfaction all influence the provider’s satisfaction with their work. Notably, one study showed stress to be a determining factor in both job satisfaction and delivery of quality care. With regards to nurses, research showed that healthcare facilities with better nursing staff management and healthy work environments have superior nursing outcomes. However, the study revealed an association between nurses’ wages and job dissatisfaction and the intention to leave their jobs, which was found to be significantly influenced by burnout, as well as patient / nurse ratio at the point of care. With regards to stress at work, aside from the typical causes such as work conditions, organizational culture, job security, the feeling of belonging, and the economic aspects, the literature shows that the levels of stress and job satisfaction in the workplace have a significant impact on the recruitment of employees and on staff turnover among healthcare professionals. For this reason, valuing and paying attention to job satisfaction is essential for organizational sustainability. This study is primarily aimed at investigating job satisfaction among healthcare professionals in Bahrain, including factors that affect the quality of care provided by workers. Moreover, the study sought to determine

the difference between the perceptions of Bahrain healthcare workers and United States healthcare workers on the relationship between job satisfaction and the quality of care they deliver. To achieve the study objectives, a cross-sectional study was conducted which used an adopted questionnaire as the data collection tool. The questionnaire consisted of 27 questions, which was distributed to a convenient sample of 230 healthcare professionals, consisting mainly of physicians, dentists, nurses, and other professionals employed within the public and private healthcare sectors of different healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, centers, and clinics. In addition, healthcare professionals were asked about their satisfaction with their jobs, their perception on the quality of care delivered, and suggestions on how to enhance job satisfaction and improve quality of care. The total number of respondents for this study was 230, of which 66% were doctors and nurses. As for the nationality of the participants, 62% were Bahrain and 38% were non-Bahrain. Furthermore, 43% of the participants were female. The majority of the participants work within the government health sector (73%), and had around 15 years of work experience. The results of the statistical analysis indicate that most healthcare professionals in Bahrain are satisfied with their work, and many intend to continue their employment with their current employer. The top three factors which influence job satisfaction included work environment at 50.6%, work-life balance at 43.4%, and compensation at 42.2%. However, in the U.S., the top three factors included compensation at 62.5%, work environment at 56.3%, and quality of care at 43.3%. It is interesting to note that the Bahrain healthcare profes-

sionals identified work-life balance as the second-top criteria for job satisfaction (56%), while the U.S. did not recognized work-life-balance as a critical factor. The findings could be explained by the family commitment that is prominent in Middle Eastern cultures. The factors that affect the quality of healthcare among healthcare professionals in Bahrain were workload (61%), poor management (48%), and stress (37%), while those in the U.S. were workload (87.5), staff scheduling (81), and stress (69%). Based on previous empirical studies, when comparing the perception of healthcare professionals in Bahrain and the U.S., compensation, stress, and benefits are found to influence healthcare professionals’ satisfaction. For Bahrain healthcare professionals, work-life balance is an important factor in job satisfaction, while stress is not. This could be explained by the culture of productivity found in Bahrain compared to the western work environment. In conclusion, job satisfaction is an essential part of ensuring high-quality care. Dissatisfied healthcare professionals provide low quality and less efficient care. Results from the study suggested that healthcare managers should continue to build long-term relationships with their employees, extend employees’ work-life balance, place more emphasis on the well-being of their employees, and engage their employees to avoid factors that may affect the quality of care delivered to patients. Thus, healthcare leaders and managers need to continue to repeatedly measure the level of job satisfaction so they can identify trends and develop intervention techniques to improve the level of job satisfaction among healthcare workers when required.

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POSTNATAL DEPRESSION Type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby

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t’s a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners. It’s important to seek help as soon as possible if you think you might be depressed, as your symptoms could last months or get worse and have a significant impact on you, your baby and your family. with the right support, which can include self-help strategies and therapy, most women make a full recovery .

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Symptoms of postnatal depression

Treatments for postnatal depression

Many women feel a bit down, tearful or anxious in the first week after giving birth. This is often called the “baby blues” and is so common don’t last for more than two weeks after giving birth. If your symptoms last longer or start later, you could have postnatal depression. Postnatal depression can start any time in the first year after giving birth. Signs of postnatal depression occur gradually and include: • Persistent feeling of sadness. • Lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the wider world. • Lack of energy and feeling tired all the time. • Trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day. • Difficulty bonding with your baby. • Withdrawing from contact with other people. • Problems concentrating and making decisions. • Frightening thoughts, for example, about hurting your baby.

Postnatal depression can be lonely, distressing and frightening, but support and effective treatments are available, these include: • Self-help – things you can try yourself include: talking to your family and friends about your feelings and what they can do to help; making time for yourself to do things you enjoy; resting whenever you get the chance and getting as much sleep as you can at night; exercising regularly; eating a healthy diet • Psychological therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). • Antidepressants, these may be recommended if your depression is more severe or other treatments haven’t helped.

Getting help for postnatal depression Don’t struggle alone hoping that the problem will go away. Remember that: • A range of help and support is available, including therapy. • Depression is an illness like any other. • It’s not your fault you’re depressed – it can happen to anyone. • Being depressed doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent • It doesn’t mean you’re going mad.

What causes postnatal depression? The cause of postnatal depression isn’t completely clear. Some of the factors it has been associated with include: • A history of mental health problems, particularly depression, earlier in life. • A history of mental health problems during pregnancy. • having no close family or friends to support you. • A poor relationship with your partner. • Recent stressful life events, such as a bereavement. • Experiencing the “baby blues”. Even if you don’t have any of these symptoms, having a baby is a

Dr. Abeer Mahmoud Eissa Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Mental health life-changing event that can sometimes trigger depression. It often takes time to adapt to becoming a new parent. Looking after a small baby can be stressful and exhausting.

Can postnatal depression be prevented? Although there have been several studies into preventing postnatal depression, there is no evidence that there’s anything specific you can do to prevent the condition developing, apart from maintaining as healthy a lifestyle as you can for yourself. However, if you have a history of depression or mental health problems, or if you have a family history of mental health problems after childbirth, tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or thinking of having a baby. This is so they can offer you appropriate monitoring and treatment, if necessary. If you have had a mental health problem while pregnant, your doctor should arrange for you to be seen regularly in the first few weeks after birth.

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HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY Prediction, Detection, Prevention and treatment

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ypertension in pregnancy is one of the leading risks for maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity during gestation, in labor and during puerperium in both developing and developed countries. Hypertension is usually classified based on time of onset, clinical and laboratory findings.

Chronic hypertension Chronic hypertension is defined as elevated blood pressure that starts before pregnancy or detected before the 20th week of pregnancy.

toms like headache, nausea vomiting Epigastric pain.

Eclampsia Eclampsia is pre-eclampsia with convulsions

Gestational hypertension It is defined as an increase of blood pressure that starts after a 20th week of pregnancy

Pre-eclampsia Pre-eclampsia is gestational hypertension and appearance of protein in the urine (proteinuria)

Pre-eclampsia on top of chronic hypertension When there is more elevation of blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation with hematological changes on to top of pre-existing chronic hypertension.

HELLP Syndrome Severe pre-eclampsia Severe pre-eclampsia is defined as eclampsia associated with symp-

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Which is elevation of blood pressure associated with hemolysis, elevate liver enzymes and low platelets.

Hypertension in pregnancy is a systemic disease affecting the endothelium of blood vessels causing damage in many organs all over the body but the real cause still not known.

Why pregnant women develop pre-eclampsia? It is now clear that pre-eclampsia develops as a result of abnormalities in placentation with the release of toxic material that damage the endothelium of the small blood vessels all over the body causing hypertension and damage of the different organs including the kidney causing proteinuria.

High-risk group: There are women who are more

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likely to develop hypertension in pregnancy especially those with a past history or family history of pre-eclampsia, those with an autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus, renal disease and that above age of 40 with and obesity.

Adverse effect of pre-eclampsia of the mother and the fetus: Hypertension in pregnancy can cause abruption of the placenta, heavy antepartum bleeding, renal failure, cerebral and pulmonary edema, postpartum bleeding and admission to the intensive care units, blood transfusion or even death if neglected. Those women who develop pre-eclampsia are more likely to develop cardiovascular disorder in the future. Pre-eclampsia has also adverse effects on the fetus causing intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, preterm deliveries and the subsequent bad effect on the preterm babies, prolonged admission to neonatal intensive care units for long time with a subsequent effect on the health economy.

Detection, prediction and prevention Recently the FETAL MEDICINE FOUNDATION has developed an algorithm that helps in prediction of women who are going to develop pre-eclampsia during their pregnancies specially before 34 weeks gestation and subsequently start Aspirin treatment of 150 mg daily before 16 weeks gestation and till 36 weeks of pregnancy This algorithm depends on taking proper personal and family history of

pre-eclampsia, taking good obstetrical and medical history, measuring uterine artery pulsatile index between 11-13 weeks of gestation, mean arterial blood pressure measurement, in addition to measuring the level of placental growth factor in the maternal blood. This Algorithm has been validated and proved to be reliable. It is of importance to screen all pregnant women not only those at high risk as this screening program proved to be cost-effective and saves a lot of the newborns , meanwhile Aspirin should not be given routinely to all pregnant women empirically regardless of their estimated risk for development of pre-eclampsia for two main reasons ; first to achieve the best compliance , second giving aspirin to the large number of population carries many hazards and significant side effects to the population .

Treatment Early prediction, detection and prevention should have the priority in managing pre-eclampsia. The new strategy is the prophylactic Aspirin for the high-risk group. However, once hypertension in pregnancy is diagnosed, every effort should be taken to save the mother and the fetus. Delivery is the key to end the dilemma of hypertension complications. The severity of hypertension, symptoms, signs, hematological and laboratory changes will determine the timing and type of delivery whether normal vaginal delivery or cesarean section. Not only this but also whether the pregnant woman will be managed as an outpatient or should be admitted to the pre-eclampsia care

Dr. Asmaa Abdulsalam Consultant of Obstetrics and Gynecology units in the hospital. Subsequently, if the blood pressure is very high with severe symptoms immediate termination of pregnancy is mandatory regardless of the duration of pregnancy. on the other hand, if symptoms are mild so pregnancy can be extended to 37 weeks to guarantee fetal lung maturity. Antihypertensive drugs should be given to control blood pressure, Magnesium sulphate is necessary to prevent eclamptic fits, management also includes close observation of the general condition of the mother, vitals and urine output, with proper careful observation of the input i.e. the given intravenous fluids.

Conclusion Pre-eclampsia is a dangerous complication to both the mother and the fetus during pregnancy. However, Pre-eclampsia became a preventable disease, it can be predicted as early as 13 weeks of gestation and subsequently prophylactically prevented by Aspirin for those estimated to be at high risk by starting 150 mg of Aspirin before 16 weeks gestation.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Breast Cancer

BREAST CANCER An early diagnosis of breast cancer increases the chance of recovery MARCH.APRIL 2019

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Breast Cancer

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linical studies show that the recovery rates have increased significantly since the 1990s among women who have received early diagnosis, which coincided with a high level of awareness in societies. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which is part of the World Health Organization. Around 1.4 million new cases are diagnosed every year and breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide, killing more than 450,000 per year.

Type of cancer and the appropriate treatment Once you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor will review your pathology report and the results of any imaging tests to understand the specifics of your tumor. Using a tissue sample from your breast biopsy or using your tumor if you’ve already undergone surgery, your medical team determines your breast cancer type. This information helps your doctor decide which treatment options are most appropriate for you. Some breast cancers are sensitive to your body’s naturally occurring female hormones — estrogen and progesterone. The breast cancer cells have receptors on the outside of their walls that can catch specific hormones that circulate through your body. Knowing your breast cancer is sensitive to hormones gives your doctor a better idea of how best to treat the cancer or prevent cancer from recurring. Your doctor will check to see if your tumor has hormone receptors. If it does, she may call it “hormone-receptor positive,” “ER-positive,” or “PR-positive.” Triple negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that

does not have receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone or the protein HER2. For about 1 in 5 women with breast cancer, the cancer cells have too much of a growth-promoting protein known as HER2 on their surface. These cancers, known as HER2-positive breast cancers, tend to grow and spread more aggressively. A number of drugs have been developed that target this protein along with chemotherapy.

Hormone Receptors Most breast cancers are sensitive to the hormones estrogen or progesterone. These tumors have a sort of biological on-off switch called a hormone receptor. Estrogen and progesterone can flip these switches “on” and quicken the cancer cells’ growth. Your doctor will check to see if your tumor has hormone receptors. If it does, she may call it “hormone-receptor positive,” “ER-positive,” or “PR-positive.” For advanced cases, your doctor may want to repeat these tests after a while to see if the disease has changed. It may respond differently to hormones than before. The results will help your doctor find the best treatment at any stage. Cancer cells that have too many copies of the HER2 gene (HER2-positive cancers) produce too much of the growth-promoting protein called HER2. Targeted therapy drugs are available to shut down the HER2 protein, thus slowing the growth and killing these cancer cells. For women with HER2-positive breast cancers, the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Its standard treatment to give this medication along with chemotherapy after surgery to people with breast

cancer that’s spread to other areas. It can also be used for early-stage breast cancer. But there is a small but real risk of heart damage and possible lung damage. Scientists are still studying how long women should take this medication for the greatest benefit.

Hormone Therapy Hormone therapy is a form of systemic therapy, meaning it reaches cancer cells almost anywhere in the body and not just in the breast. It’s recommended for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, and it does not help women whose tumors are hormone receptor-negative. Hormone therapy is often used after surgery (as adjuvant therapy) to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Sometimes it is started before surgery (as neoadjuvant therapy) as well. It is usually taken for at least 5 years. Hormone therapy can also be used to treat cancer that has come back after treatment or that has spread to other parts of the body. About 2 out of 3 breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive. Their cells have receptors (proteins) that attach to the hormones estrogen (ER-positive cancers) and/or progesterone (PR-positive cancers). For these cancers, high estrogen levels help the cancer cells grow and spread. There are several types of hormone therapy, which use different ways to keep estrogen from helping the cancer grow. Most types of hormone therapy for breast cancer either lower estrogen levels or stop estrogen from acting on breast cancer cells. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are drugs that stop estrogen production. Before menopause, most estrogen is made by the ovaries. But for women whose ovaries aren’t working, either due to menopause or certain treatments, a small amount of estrogen

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Breast Cancer

is still made in the fat tissue by an enzyme (called aromatase). AIs work by blocking aromatase from making estrogen. These drugs are useful in women who are past menopause, although they can also be used in premenopausal women in combination with ovarian suppression. Some hormone treatments work by lowering estrogen levels. Because estrogen encourages hormone receptor-positive breast cancers to grow, lowering the estrogen level can help slow the cancer’s growth or help prevent it from coming back. For pre-menopausal women, removing or shutting down the ovaries (ovarian suppression), which are the main source of estrogen, effectively makes them post-menopausal. This may allow some other hormone therapies to be used.

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Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high-energy X-rays, protons or other particles to kill cancer cells. Rapidly growing cells, such as cancer cells, are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than are normal cells. It is used after surgery to help prevent recurrence. It can also be used to provide relief from pain and other symptoms of advanced breast cancer. Radiation therapy may be used to treat breast cancer at almost every stage. It is an effective way to reduce your risk of breast cancer recurring after surgery. In addition, it is commonly used to ease the symptoms caused by cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer).

Chemotherapy for breast cancer uses drugs to target and destroy breast cancer cells. It is frequently used in addition to other treatments, such as surgery, radiation or hormone therapy. Receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer may increase the chance of a cure, decrease the risk of the cancer returning, alleviate symptoms from the cancer or help people with cancer live longer with a better quality of life. If the cancer has recurred or spread, chemotherapy may control the breast cancer to help you live longer. Or it can help ease symptoms the cancer is causing.

Targeted Therapy With the latest breakthroughs in molecular biology and immunother-

ARTICLE FEATURES . Breast Cancer

apy, very specific targeted therapies have been tailored to the specific pathophysiology of different types of breast cancers. These recent developments have contributed to a more efficient and specific treatment protocol in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer targeted therapies involve substances or drugs which block the growth of cancer by interfering with the function of specific molecules responsible for tumor cell proliferation and survival. In addition to chemotherapy and hormone therapy, there are newer, more effective treatments that can attack specific breast cancer cells without harming normal cells. Currently, these targeted methods are commonly used in combination with traditional chemotherapy. However, targeted drugs often have less severe side effects than standard chemotherapy drugs.

Symptoms women may not know Common signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast, changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling, a newly inverted nipple, peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin and redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange. There are also some less common signs of breast cancer that can be helpful to know including leaking nipple, bloody nipple discharge, itchy nipple, swollen lymph nodes, tender swollen breasts. Today, doctors say most women don’t need to do self-exams. Instead, the goal is breast awareness. Get to know your breasts, the shape, feel, color, and size. When you spot any changes to your normal, that’s when to call your doctor.

Breast Cancer Surgery Breast cancer surgery is a key component of breast cancer treatment that involves removing the cancer with an operation. Breast cancer surgery may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and radiation therapy. For people with a very high risk of breast cancer, breast cancer surgery may be an option to reduce the risk of future breast cancer. Breast cancer surgery includes different procedures, such as surgery to remove the entire breast (mastectomy), surgery to remove a portion of the breast tissue (lumpectomy), surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes and surgery to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy. Which breast cancer operation is best for you depends on the size and stage of your cancer, your other treatment options, and your goals and preferences.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Recurrent Breast Cancer

Recurrent Breast Cancer Promising treatments that reduce the spread of the disease after its recurrence

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ecurrent breast cancer is breast cancer that comes back after initial treatment. Although the initial treatment is aimed at eliminating all cancer cells, a few may have evaded treatment and survived. These undetected cancer cells multiply, becoming recurrent breast cancer. Recurrent breast cancer may occur months or years after your initial treatment. The cancer may come back in the same place as the original cancer (local recurrence), or it may spread to other areas of your body (distant recurrence). Among women

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with small, node-negative breast cancers, those with tumors that are HER2-positive have a higher risk of cancer recurrence. This suggests that consideration of HER2-targeted therapy may be important, even for women with small tumors. Targeted therapies are treatments that can selectively target cancer cells and minimize damage to normal, healthy cells. This means that side effects of targeted therapy are generally less severe. Targeted therapies can be easily combined with

chemotherapy. Advances in science and technology have led to the development of several different types of targeted therapies. A regional breast cancer recurrence means that the breast cancer has come back in the lymph nodes in the armpit or collarbone near the area where the cancer was originally detected. When breast cancer comes back in other areas of the body, it is called “metastatic.� Metastatic breast cancer is stage IV breast cancer. The most common breast cancer metastasis sites are the bones, the lungs, the brain, and the liver.

ARTICLE FEATURES . Recurrent Breast Cancer

How does recurrence happen? Recurrent breast cancer occurs when cells that were part of your original breast cancer break away from the original tumor and hide nearby in the breast or in another part of your body. Later, these cells begin growing again. The chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy or other treatment you may have received after your first breast cancer diagnosis was intended to kill any cancer cells that may have remained after surgery. But sometimes these treatments aren’t able to kill all of the cancer cells. Sometimes cancer cells may be dormant for years without causing harm. Then something happens that activates the cells, so they grow and spread to other parts of the body. It’s not clear why this occurs. For breast cancer survivors, factors that increase the risk of a recurrence include lymph node involvement - finding cancer in nearby lymph nodes at the time of your original diagnosis increases your risk of the cancer coming back. Women with larger tumors have a greater risk of recurrent breast cancer. During breast cancer surgery, the surgeon tries to remove the cancer along with a small amount of the normal tissue that surrounds it. A pathologist examines the edges of the tissue to look for cancer cells. If the borders are free of cancer when examined under a microscope, that’s considered a negative margin. If any part of the border has cancer cells (positive margin), or the margin between the tumor and normal tissue is close, the risk of breast cancer recurrence is increased. Most women who choose a lumpectomy (wide local excision) for breast cancer undergo breast radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. Women who don’t

undergo the radiation therapy have an increased risk of local breast cancer recurrence. Younger women, particularly those under age 35 at the time of their original breast cancer diagnosis, face a higher risk of recurrent breast cancer. Women with inflammatory breast cancer have a higher risk of local recurrence. If your breast cancer wasn’t responsive to hormone therapy or treatments directed at the HER2 gene (triple negative breast cancer), you may have an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Can it be prevented? Strategies that have been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence include hormone therapy - women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer may reduce their risk of recurrent breast cancer by taking hormone therapy after their initial treatment. Hormone therapy may continue for at least five years. For women with breast cancer who have an increased risk of cancer recurrence, chemotherapy has been shown to decrease the chance that cancer will recur, and those who receive chemotherapy live longer. Women who’ve had a breast-sparing operation to treat their breast cancer and those who had a large tumor or inflammatory breast cancer have a lower chance of the cancer recurring if they’re treated with radiation therapy. For women whose cancer makes extra HER2 protein, the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) can decrease the chance of the cancer recurring. Taking bone-building drugs reduces the risk of cancer recurring in the bones (bone metastasis) in women with an increased risk for breast cancer recurrence. Maintaining a healthy weight may help decrease the risk of recurrent breast cancer. Regular exercise

may reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence. Focus on including lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains in your diet. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit yourself to one drink per day.

Promising treatment protocols Cancer has seen a remarkable development in terms of modern treatments that have led to the development of therapeutic protocols that contribute to raising the chances of recovery and reducing the possibility of recurrence. When developing a treatment protocol for a patient with recurrent disease, the treating physician relies on the quality of the healthcare previously received by the patient and the type of treatment adopted during that period and the treatment regimens after her recovery. Today, doctors are able to classify the biological type of the cancer cell by discovering many treatments for HER2-positive breast cancer, which is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. For women whose cancer makes extra HER2 protein, the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) can decrease the chance of the cancer recurring by blocking HER2 receptors and stopping the cells from dividing. The development of targeted therapies reduces the recurrence rate and increases the likelihood of recovery, especially in the early stages of the disease. This type of treatment should be accompanied by chemotherapy, surgery as well as hormonal and radiation therapy. Today, with the medical advances, the goal of treatment is not only to cure the disease but also allow the patient to live longer disease-free and alleviate the symptoms of cancer.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Endometrial Adhesions

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Endometrial Adhesions

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ntrauterine adhesions form when scar tissue builds up between the inner walls of the uterus causing the walls to bind together. Endometriosis is the most common cause of adhesions located in the pelvic and abdominal cavity for women. Endometriosis adhesions cause scarring and fibrous bands to form, which contain endometriosis glands, stroma, and inflammation, as opposed to more typical adhesions caused by repeated surgery, which contain only fibrous bands. The most common endometriosis adhesions form and cause scarring within the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, small intestine, and pelvic sidewall, between the bowel, rectum and recto-vaginal septum. Intrauterine adhesions often occur after trauma to the uterine cavity, such as dilation and curettage (D&C), which is performed for pregnancy termination or miscarriage, excess uterine bleeding after childbirth, or other gynecological conditions. Other causes may be from outpatient surgeries that remove tissue such as polyps or fibroids or endometritis (an infection of the uterus lining).

detected by a sudden low blood flow during the menstrual cycle. The most common symptoms of uterine adhesions include infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, sudden reduction or discontinuation of menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and recurrent miscarriages. 40 percent of women with endometrial adhesions witness unexpected complications and infertility, but doctors believe that 70 to 80 percent of patients with mild to moderate uterine adhesions can conceive.

Adhesions and Infertility Adhesions are one possible cause of blocked fallopian tubes. Endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause adhesions that interfere with your ability to get pregnant. If a fallopian tube is blocked, the passage for sperm to get to the eggs, as well as the path back to the uterus for the fertilized egg, is blocked. Adhesions may cause infertility by preventing the egg and sperm from meeting, interfering with ovulation or making the uterus inhospitable to a fertilized embryo.

Causes Symptoms Women with adhesions may not experience any symptoms, and some women may only experience absent, light, or infrequent menstruation cycles. The more significant effects of uterine adhesions can be inability to get pregnant or recurrent miscarriages. In rare cases, the menstrual flow may be blocked by the adhesions, causing pelvic pain or painful menstrual periods. Uterine adhesions are not associated with the onset of symptoms such as pain, nausea and other symptoms related to uterine problems, but are

There are several reasons behind the occurrence of uterine adhesions, including the exposure of women to severe infections that lead to the formation of scar tissue inside the uterine cavity, which is a key factor in the development of adhesions that lead to infertility and affect reproduction.

Uterine adhesions are usually caused by damage to the uterine tissue, such as D&C (dilation and curettage) for heavy bleeding, miscarriage, abortion, or any other purpose, curettage for post-delivery complications such as removal of the placenta or

hemorrhaging, uterine surgeries and infection of the uterus or pelvis.

Diagnosis and Treatment There are three primary ways to diagnosis adhesions including HSG, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. An HSG is a special kind of x-ray that can be used to get an idea of the uterine shape and whether the fallopian tubes are clear. Blocked fallopian tubes may be diagnosed with an HSG. With a hysteroscopy, a thin, lighted tube is inserted into the uterus via the cervix. This enables the doctor to see the inside of the uterine cavity and the openings to the fallopian tubes. A hysteroscopy can be used to diagnose problems with the uterine cavity, the same procedure may be used to remove and heal intrauterine adhesions. A laparoscopy is a procedure where a small incision is made in the abdomen. Then, a small, lighted tube with a camera device is inserted, along with instruments. Laparoscopic surgery is the only way to diagnose endometriosis. The same surgery that is used to diagnosis endometriosis or pelvic adhesions can be used to treat and remove the adhesions. High-resolution ultrasonography is especially helpful in combination with hysteroscopy and can also be used to prevent perforating the uterus. In severe cases, it may take more than one procedure to successfully treat uterine adhesions. In addition, the patient may be prescribed hormones or NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to prevent the adhesions from forming again, and sometimes the surgeon may recommend placing a structural plastic catheter inside the uterus for several days or even weeks to keep the walls apart while healing takes place.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Cervical Cancer

CERVICAL CANCER Prevention is possible MARCH.APRIL 2019

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Cervical Cancer

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he World Health Organization stated that almost all of cervical cancer deaths could be avoided if known effective interventions were available to all women and implemented, including immunizing adolescent girls (ages 9-14) against human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. Cervical cancer is preventable with the human papillomavirus vaccine. And if detected and treated early, it’s also curable. If cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment are not urgently scaled up, experts estimate that by 2040 there could be a 50% increase in deaths over 2018 levels. There are many types of HPV, and many do not cause problems. HPV infections usually clear up without any intervention within a few months after acquisition, and about 90% clear within 2 years. A small proportion of infections with certain types of HPV can persist and progress to cancer. Cervical cancer is by far the most common HPV-related disease. Nearly all cases of cervical cancer can be attributable to HPV infection. Non-cancer causing types of HPV (especially types 6 and 11) can cause genital warts and respiratory papillomatosis. Although these conditions very rarely result in death, they may cause significant occurrence of disease. Genital warts are very common and highly infectious. HPV vaccination before sexual activity can reduce the risk of infection by the HPV types targeted by the vaccine. The HPV vaccine is given as three injections in the upper arm. The vaccine works best if you have it over a six-month period, with the second dose of the vaccine two months after the first, and the final dose four months after the second (at 0, 2 and

6 months). Vaccines approved by the FDA to prevent HPV infection include Gardasil and Cervarix. These vaccines prevent infections with HPV types 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause about 70% of cervical cancers and an even higher percentage of some of the other HPV-associated cancers (9, 10). Gardasil also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts. These vaccines are given through a series of three injections into muscle tissue over a 6-month period.

How does it occur? Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic change (mutation) that causes them to turn into abnormal cells. Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don’t die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from a tumor to spread (metastasize) elsewhere in the body. It isn’t clear what causes cervical cancer, but it’s certain that HPV plays a role. HPV is very common, and most women with the virus never develop cervical cancer. In addition, early sex-

ual activity, multiple sexual partners, smoking and taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills) increase the risk of cervical cancer because they lead to greater exposure to HPV. Abnormal cervical cell changes rarely cause symptoms. But you may have symptoms if those cell changes grow into cervical cancer. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding between menstrual periods, after sex, or after menopause, pain in the lower belly or pelvis, pain during sex and abnormal vaginal discharge.

Prevention is possible In order to reduce your risk of cervical cancer, you should get vaccinated against HPV as it is the most effective if given to girls before they become sexually active. Have routine Pap tests because they can detect precancerous conditions of the cervix, so they can be monitored or treated in order to prevent cervical cancer. Most medical organizations suggest women begin routine. Practice safe sex because using a condom, having fewer sexual partners and delaying intercourse may reduce your risk of cervical cancer and do not smoke.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Uterine Fibroids

Uterine Fibroids Benign tumors that almost never develop into cancer MARCH.APRIL 2019

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Uterine Fibroids

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terine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. They aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer. Fibroids can range in number and size from a single growth to multiple growths, and from very small to large. As many as 70% to 80% of all women will have fibroids by age 50. Doctors don’t know the cause of uterine fibroids, but research and clinical experience point to these factors: genetic changes, hormones and other growth factors. Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in normal uterine muscle cells. Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones that stimulate development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy, appear to promote the growth of fibroids. Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than normal uterine muscle cells do. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a decrease in hormone production. Substances that help the body maintain tissues, such as insulin-like growth factor, may affect fibroid growth. Many women who have fibroids don’t have any symptoms. In those that do, symptoms can be influenced by the location, size and number of fibroids. In women who have symptoms, the most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual periods lasting more than a week, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, constipation and backache or leg pains. Rarely, a fibroid can cause acute pain when it outgrows its blood

supply, and begins to die. Fibroids are generally classified by their location. Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall. Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity. Subserosal fibroids project to the outside of the uterus. Although uterine fibroids usually aren’t dangerous, they can cause discomfort and may lead to complications such as anemia from heavy blood loss.

Diagnosis Uterine fibroids are frequently found incidentally during a routine pelvic exam. Your doctor may feel irregularities in the shape of your uterus, suggesting the presence of fibroids. If you have symptoms of uterine fibroids, you doctor may order an ultrasound and lab tests. If confirmation is needed, your doctor may order an ultrasound. It uses sound waves to get a picture of your uterus to confirm the diagnosis and to map and measure fibroids. A doctor or technician moves the ultrasound device over your abdomen (transabdominal) or places it inside your vagina (transvaginal) to get images of your uterus. If you have abnormal menstrual bleeding, your doctor may order other tests to investigate potential causes. These might include a complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you have anemia because of chronic blood loss and other blood tests to rule out bleeding disorders or thyroid problems. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also show the size and location of fibroids, identify different types of tumors and help determine appropriate treatment options. Hysterosonography, also called a saline infusion sonogram, uses sterile saline

to expand the uterine cavity, making it easier to get images of submucosal fibroids and the endometrium. Hysterosalpingography uses a dye to highlight the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes on X-ray images. Your doctor may recommend it if infertility is a concern. In addition to revealing fibroids, it can help your doctor determine if your fallopian tubes are open.

When to undergo a surgery? Medications for uterine fibroids target hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, treating symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure. They don’t eliminate fibroids, but may shrink them. Hysteroscopic myomectomy may be an option if the fibroids are contained inside the uterus (submucosal). Your surgeon accesses and removes fibroids using instruments inserted through your vagina and cervix into your uterus. If you have multiple fibroids, very large fibroids or very deep fibroids, your doctor may use an open abdominal surgical procedure to remove the fibroids. Many women who are told that hysterectomy is their only option can have an abdominal myomectomy instead. However, scarring after surgery can affect future fertility. Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. It remains the only proven permanent solution for uterine fibroids. But hysterectomy is major surgery. Hysterectomy ends your ability to bear children. If you also elect to have your ovaries removed, the surgery brings on menopause and the question of whether you’ll take hormone replacement therapy. Most women with uterine fibroids may be able to choose to keep their ovaries.

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NEWS

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University opens global platform for the youth through TEDxHBMSU First major international event of its kind organized by Learners Council aimed at empowering change through creative ideas which demonstrated the capabilities, potentials and creativity of the UAE’s sons and daughters, who have put forward honorable examples in leading the path of change. This contributes to a safer, more prosperous and happier future and places the UAE at the forefront of the world’s leading countries. The success of the event is also a reflection of TEDx’s innovative concept, which facilitates enhancementof knowledge and exchange of expertise, ideas and information in various fields, driving comprehensive and sustainable development.”

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s part of a major move towards rebuilding higher education in the Arab world and internationally, the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has opened its doors recently as an international platform for the youth through the hosting of TEDxHBMSU themed ‘Empowering Change’. It is the first international event organized by the university’s Learners Council which will enable young people to participate effectively in influential international forums. TEDxHBMSU featured eight of the most talented young speakers who own successful projects and motivational talks that may influence others, including learners from HBMSU, other universities and leading entrepreneurs. The event witnessed the presence of several decision-makers and VIP figures, headed by His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi

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Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai and Chairman of HBMSU’s Board of Governors (BOG) and Dr. Mansoor AlAwar, Chancellor of HBMSU, who lauded the efforts of young inventorsin sharing inspiring ideas that would make a positive change at the social, economic and development levels. H.E Dhahi Khalfan said: “The success of the Learners Council in hosting the TedxHBMSU is a solid demonstration of the ability of our youth to leave a lasting impression of their creative ideas,with the unconditional support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in establishing creativity as our gateway to the future, thereby making creative thinking a cornerstone of our nation’s leadership. We are delighted to see the extent of national participation in the event,

Dr. Mansoor AlAwar thanked the Learners Council for their efforts which had a great impact on the success of the TEDxHBMSU conference in providing a platform that could empower change among the young generation through creativity. He added that H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU, recognizes and strongly believes in honing the talents and creative capabilities of the UAE youth that is essential in building a comprehensive scientific and cultural development. Dr. Al Awar further emphasized that the theme ‘Empowering Change’ reflects the University’s commitment to change as a foundation to enhance future readiness and is in line with the national direction towards producing qualified human resources capable of leading and guiding the country towards continued progress and place the UAE as among the world’s leading nations.

NEWS

HBMSU’s Chancellor added: “TEDxHBMSU is a pioneering platform for interactive sharing of leading experiences through inspiring speeches that present creative ideas by young people to the world and we believe that strong and creative ideas can enable radical and positive changes in people’s lives. We are proud of TEDxHBMSU’s success, which highlights the University’s pioneering position in providing the best education for future creators and innovators, who are capable of leadership and excellence. The success of the event also complementsHBSMU’s endeavors to constantly support the success and scientific excellence of our youth.” HBMSU’s hosting of TEDxHBMSU, in cooperation with the learner’s council, brought to light many inspirational ideas from the youth, which paved way for them to gain audience from both the local and global community. It also helped spread awareness about TEDx as an ideal platform for information exchange and knowledge sharing, as well as generating creative ideas in various fields.The event also sent a powerful message and inspiration to encourage the youth to attend such leading forums that provide moral support and innovative ideas aimed at helping change the world for the

better. The young innovators from the UAE gained wide attention on the TEDx channel on YouTube following their speech presentations. Mohammed Al Dhefairi, Learners Council member and one of the main organizers of the event, said: “TEDxHBMSU was a successful event in all respects and supports HBMSU’s aspirations to host leading international events. The event opened up new channels and opportunities for young speakers to share their success stories and inspirational ideas with the international community, paving the way for pioneering achievements in various scientific, knowledge, economic and social fields. The audience were inspired and expressed their admiration for the creative ideas and pioneering experiences that were presented. Such achievements inspire us in the Learners Council to continue to organize more influential events in the next phase.” Some of the speakers are: Muna Al Shanqiti, a clinical dietitian and a happiness columnist who is passionate about learning and spreading the science of positive psychology; Mohamed Bin Ghatti, CEO of Binghatti Holding, one of the largest holding companies in the UAE and a leading

property developer awarded as the most influential leader in the real estate sector in Dubai; Mohamed AlMidfayi, CEO of Emirati Coffee Co and Managing Director of Al Salama Fire Safety Training whopreviously worked as Vice President of Wholesale Risk at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and the first known innovation specialist in the UAE; Maryam Alobathani, a Lab supervisorin the Biotechnology Department of the College of Science in University of Sharjah, who is also currently studying her master’s degree in applied biology focused on human genetics. Other speakers include: Noura Al Dosari, a doctor interested in neuroscience and neurosurgery and has part of several initiatives and researches in the neuroscientific field; Rashid AlRaesi, a graduate from the University of Liverpool, major incriminology and a skilled communication and public speaker, writer and researcher; Fahima Alblooshi, an ambitious student at HBMSU and a practicing writer, working towards self-development and idea meritocracy; and Maya AlHawary, the first UAE PhDscholar in EQ & Leadership, Chair of Board of Governors and Director of Planning at Dubai Carmel School, a speaker, certified trainer-assessor, and a well-knownknowledge ambassador.

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His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami inaugurates International Family Medicine Conference in Dubai

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nder the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President, Dubai Health Authority, His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of Dubai Health Authority, officially opened the 6th edition of the International Family Medicine Conference, which took place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from the 25th to the 27th of February, 2019. The 3-day family medicine conference held under the theme ‘Improving Patient Care with Innovation and Technology’ brought together top-notch speakers, primary healthcare specialists, professors and expert physicians in Dubai, who aim to offer their unique insights into the most important issues facing family physicians. This year, IFM attracted more than 3,000 visitors and participants from various countries over the 3 days, while also witnessed the attendance of 50 international speakers. In addition, the conference featured 38 scientific sessions and 2 hands-on workshops specifically designed for

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clinical practitioners working in the industry. With the aim of improving the knowledge of students and professionals, IFM showcased 50 scientific posters as well as a number of scientific presentations and research studies on a variety of topics related to family medicine. Furthermore, conference attendees get a chance to earn 20.5 CME credit points from UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). During his keynote address, His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of Dubai Health Authority, said, “In the past few years, the medical field has witnessed an increasing demand in family medicine services (in terms of prevention, diagnostics, and treatment) and the world has faced qualitative leaps on different levels, including the medical practices and modern techniques, which played a pivotal role in strengthening the position of this important medical specialty. Keeping this in mind, International Family Medicine Conference which is a highly specialized scientific event, features a rich comprehensive agenda focusing on the latest developments and advancements in the healthcare

field, such as, Artificial Intelligence as well as the application of smart digital medical devices and equipment.” He added, “Dubai Health Authority strongly believes that in order to achieve a healthier and more prosperous society, we must provide an integrated and comprehensive family care. DHA is also certain that in order to build a healthy family, all the related bodies related to health care must join hands in achieving this goal, including the educational, health and community institutions. Continuing further, DHA is keen to pursue its goals and implement it in our policy and work methodology in order to enhance the quality of life and achieve a better health future for all.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khalid AlQumaizi, Consultant of Family Medicine, MOH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said, “International Family Medicine Conference presents us a great opportunity to come together and share knowledge and experience and learn best practices from experts in the field of family medicine in the UAE and abroad. As family care physicians we need a primary health

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care system that empowers people and communities as owners of their health, advocates policies that promote and protect people in need and addresses the social, economic, environmental and commercial elements of health through evidence-based policies and actions across all sectors. The future of primary healthcare will be safe and secure if political will is combined with the vast pool of scientific knowledge while also ensuring the optimal utilization of technology and resources keeping the interests of local communities and hospitals in mind.” On his part, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of International Family Medicine Conference, said, “The UAE is a pioneer in the field of healthcare, providing the best health services and offering top quality care which meets international standards. Family Medicine is one of the most important sectors of healthcare in the UAE, which focuses on diagnosing, managing and preventing a wide range of health problems in an evidence-based manner. As organizers of this highly scientific conference, we recognize the need to create a unique platform for top family care physicians and experts to discuss the top most concerns in family medicine and we are highly confident that IFM will serve this purpose and help in knowledge dissemination.” He added, “I thank our esteemed doctors, specialists and expert family care physicians coming from across the globe whose consistent support for IFM has played a key role in its success over the past many years. As the UAE aims to build a worldclass healthcare system that meets international standards, we believe the expertise of top-notch family care

practitioners and world-renowned specialists in Dubai will greatly help in sharing of knowledge and experiences. I am highly confident that IFM’s unique platform will address the challenges faced by family care physicians and help us in building a viable roadmap for the future of healthcare in the UAE.” Commenting on the top healthcare concerns in the UAE and the latest treatment practices prevalent in the healthcare industry, Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Conference Chairperson, IFM, said, “IFM aims to focus its attention on common healthcare concerns and diseases which are having a major impact on the UAE population. In the UAE, cardiovascular disease is widely prevalent and is the leading cause of death while diabetes, hypertension and smoking are other key concerns impacting people. In this conference, we will not only address these highly relevant topics and explore the underlying causes of major diseases in detail but also focus on how advanced technologies and the access to high quality pharmaceutical medicines are creating new treatment opportunities.” She added, “This year, IFM features a rich comprehensive agenda with a particular focus of improving the knowledge base of all conference attendees. Keeping this in mind, our scientific committee has designed a number of activities on the sidelines of the conference including a number of discussions, case studies and high-quality research papers on a number of diseases particularly impacting patients in the region. As part of our goal to establish an internationally recognized family medicine congress in the UAE, we believe that IFM will provide a unique atmosphere

for greater interaction, exchange of knowledge and unique insights.” On the first day, IFM conference featured in-depth discussions on a number of key trending topics in family medicine such as Value-Based Healthcare, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Depression with many faces, Why attachment and bonding matters in primary care?, Early detection of Depression, Diabetes, Obesity – what to do if conservative treatment fails?, Neurology, 2019 Migraine Updates, Recent advances in early differential diagnosis of Multi Sclerosis and a key note session on ‘Enhancement of Primary Healthcare within Saudi Health Transformation’. While the conference is featuring an exclusive discussion on ‘telehealth and how it is transforming the healthcare regional landscape in the GCC, recent studies suggest that there is surely a great appetite for the introduction of telehealth in the UAE. According to the UAE based healthcare institution Health at Hand’s UAE Telehealth report, an increasing number of patients in the UAE, find video consultation with the doctors encouraging as well as a fast and effective way of accessing medical advice for non-emergency minor illnesses. International Family Medicine Conference (IFM) is organized annually by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – a member of INDEX Holding and is supported by the Ministry of Health & Prevention in the UAE, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Global Scientific Healthcare Alliance, Health Ministers Council for Gulf Cooperation Council States, International Hospital Federation, Anti-Smoking International Alliance, INDEX Healthcare Management, and Dubai Sports Council.

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Fam International Family Medicine Conference Concludes on a High Note

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he 6th edition of the International Family Medicine Conference, successfully concluded at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), after 3 days of productive and enriching discussions on a number of topics related to family medicine. Held under the theme, “Improving Patient care with Innovation and Technology” this year, IFM highlighted the role of innovation in clinical care, education and medical research while also focusing on the impact of innovative drugs and devices in the prevention and control of chronic illnesses and non-communicable diseases. The

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event successfully attracted more than 3,000 visitors and participants over the 3 days. On the third day, while addressing a number of key healthcare challenges facing the UAE, experts highlighted that there is worrying rise in the incidence of many lifestyle-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’S) such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease. According to figures from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, NCD’s pose a huge burden and a major public health issue in the UAE, as

they account for nearly 65 percent of all deaths in the country. This comes as, the UAE is a global and regional leader in combating and controlling NCD’s, supporting the WHO’s goal of reducing the number of premature deaths from NCD’s by 25 percent by 2025. Speaking on the need to raise awareness about diabetes and their efforts to prevent the onset of this disease, Dr. Andrew Boulton, Worldwide Diabetes President, said, “The Worldwide Initiative for Diabetes Education is a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving

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the lives of people with diabetes by empowering healthcare professionals with training, education, and information on this disease. As part of our efforts at the foundation, we develop clinically-important and scientifically-relevant content and education to audiences across the globe, either by partnering with scientific conferences or holding its own free-standing educational courses. Our presence at the 6th International Family Medicine Conference here in Dubai shows our commitment towards General, Family, and Internal Medicine physicians and allied professionals, in order to provide a greater understanding of how to best manage patients with diabetes and subsequent complications, such as hypoglycemia, cardiovascular risk, neuropathies among other such diseases.” He added, “The aim of Worldwide Diabetes is to help shape the future of diabetes by educating health care professionals in the prevention, early detection, and management of diabetes in order to provide optimal care. In 2020 and beyond, the foundation will continue to provide education toward this goal.”

dates in Cardiovascular disease and Diabetes addressed various topics including ‘The Power of Predictive Alerts in improving Diabetes management. In addition, a key workshop on ‘Evidence-Based Medicine Workshop for Family Physicians and Primary Healthcare’ was held on the final day where Dr. Noha Dashash, Consultant Family Physician, Assistant Director of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dr. Hanouf Bin Himd, Consultant Family Physician and Director of the National Transformation Administration, Jeddah, Ministry of Health offered their insights on the latest in evidence-based medicine. Commenting on his participation in IFM conference, Madhukar Tanna, CEO of Pharmax, said, “At IFM, we highlighted the vital role played by family physicians as the first point of contact in treating patients of

all age groups. As part of our efforts to help family physicians meet their challenges, Pharmax strives to ensure that physicians have the access to high-quality medications at an affordable price including a range of therapeutic medicines for cardiovascular, metabolic, neurology and other such diseases. In the future, we aim to continue our partnership with IFM, which is a great platform to highlight the issues related to family medicine in the region.” International Family Medicine Conference (IFM) is organized annually by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – a member of INDEX Holding and is supported by the Ministry of Health & Prevention in the UAE, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Global Scientific Healthcare Alliance, Health Ministers Council for Gulf Cooperation Council States, International Hospital Federation, Anti-Smoking International Alliance, INDEX Healthcare Management, and Dubai Sports Council.

On the final day, IFM conference discussed a number of topics under various themes related to family medicine such as Chronic Disease Management with Primary Care Settings - Managing Hypoglycemia in the type 2 diabetes patient and Challenges in the Management of Diabetic Neuropathy, while another key session under the title ‘Updates in Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes’ focused on many topics such as New Generation Basal Insulin – new evidence, Role of CGM in Diabetes. Moreover, one more session on ‘Up-

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L&R threw the spotlight on the newest innovations in wound care at Arab Health 2019 Leading provider of premium medical devices and hygiene products successfully launched Suprasorb® CNP P3 and Debrisoft Pad for the first time in the region

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eli BioThermal, the global name in temperature controlled packaging, exhibited its award-winning shipper solutions and services at Arab Health for the first time as the company increases its infrastructure and operations in the Middle East. Lohmann & Rauscher (L&R), a leading international provider of premium medical devices and hygiene products, threw the spotlight on the latest innovations in the field of chronic wounds during its presence at this year’s edition of Arab Health, the largest healthcare event in the MENA region, which ran from January 28, 2019 to January 31, 2019 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The company, having participated for more than ten times and this year under the slogan ‘Invitation to Innovation’, showcased new breakthroughs in

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wound care from wound bed preparation, local wound care to compression. L&R launched its medical technology solutions, Suprasorb CNP P3 and Debrisoft Pad with a pocket – for wound care management in the Arab region. The company’s extensive experience in research, development and production of medical devices is seen as key drivers in continuing its strong growth in the Arab world. According to the company’s senior executives, L&R has already firmly established itself as a professional problem solver in the Arab market with branches in the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The company has expressed confidence in seeing more growth in the Arab world as a great opportunity to support even more people in the healthcare sector with its varied product solutions.

Wolfgang Süssle, CEO, CCO and President of the L&R Group’s Executive Board, said, “Based on the outstanding quality of our solutions and our customer-focused regional teams, L&R has consistently grown its position in the Arab market in recent years. We are convinced that we will continue on this growth path, supporting healthcare professionals with product solutions and trainings, and thereby ensuring optimal and safe care for more and more patients worldwide.” The broad portfolio of proven and innovative wound care products is one of the company’s most important business areas. With its extensive expertise in the treatment of chronic wounds, L&R offers solutions for every wound management stage. Debrisoft, one of the main prod-

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ucts showcased on the occasion of Arab Health, ensures gentle removal of debris and exudate from the wound without damaging epithelial cells and newly formed granulation tissue. Debrisoft can even ensure removal of up to 99.9 per cent of biofilm, which can delay or even prevent wound healing. Debrisoft is available as a pad, and also as a lolly for deep wounds. Both versions are not only easy to use but also rapidly achieve visible results and are characterised by a high level of patient acceptance. Apart from its wide range of wound dressings for moist wound care, L&R also launched an innovation

- a new complete negative pressure system, Suprasorb® CNP P3 (Controlled Negative Pressure). Negative pressure wound therapy is often used when assessment of the wound situation indicates that traditional methods of wound care, such as the application of wound dressings, may not be adequate. It is commonly used for acute wounds, infected postoperative wounds, burns and chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers. The beating heart of Suprasorb® CNP therapy is the P3 therapy unit for use in both in- and outpatient setting, which generates the negative pressure.

The company also displayed Rosidal® K, a short-stretch, textile-elastic and skin-friendly bandage that provides compression and is appropriate for strong compression of the extremities under phlebological treatment, as well as for the treatment of acute and chronic lymphoedema. The individually adjustable ReadyWrap compression system with short stretch properties is another crucial product in this area. It is not only easier to use and to apply using colour coding, but also helps patients manage their condition themselves, thereby helping them achieve treatment success on a daily basis.

Bedfont Scientific ltd. geared up for the largest healthcare exhibition in GCC

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edfont Scientific Ltd., a long-standing QED Environmental Systems distributor, geared up for the largest healthcare exhibition in the Gulf Cooperation Council – Arab Health. Bedfont was found on stand at C57 in Hall 7, where they exhibited an array of its cutting-edge breath and gas analysis equipment, including its popular G200 from the QED product range – Geotech. QED’s G200 is a portable Nitrous Oxide (N20) analyser for use in a wide range of medical applications including those within operating theatres, dental practices, veterinary clinics and X-ray departments. The product has a dual purpose for use as a background gas analyser or as a personal analyser as well. Its ease of use, reliability and portability has made it an incredibly sought-after product in the UK, Middle East, and Europe. Sales Team Manager, Matthew Skinner, said: “We are excited to be returning to Arab Health with the G200 this year. Exhibiting gives us a great opportunity to showcase its benefits, such as how incredibly quick and easy it is to use, as well as highlight how this portable method of verifying gas quantity and quality in medical pipelines can save the lives of patients and staff alike.” Bedfont has specialised in the design and manufacture of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments since 1976. Its vast portfolio of global products and services are aimed at not only improving the quality of life, but to save it – a message strongly supported by the ethos at QED Environmental Systems. At this year’s Arab Health, Bedfont aimed to raise awareness on the importance of breath analysis and medical gas pipeline testing today. Matthew added: “Arab Health provides us with a unique platform to meet like-minded companies and distributors and discuss ways in which we can help continue our mission of improving health, one breath at a time. We are confident that this event will be a stepping stone for our expansion into the Middle East market over the next couple of years.” Arab Health 2019 welcomed participation from over 160 countries, 4,150 exhibitors and 84,500 healthcare and trade professionals from across the world. This event, that took place between 28-31 January in Dubai, creates a perfect platform for global manufacturers to exhibit their state-of-the-art medical equipment and to understand the innovation within the industry today.

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HBMSU Chancellor lectures on the future of higher education at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine & Health Sciences rapid growth and development in various fields.

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r. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), set forward a futuristic vision to redefine the future of higher education, by drawing a clear roadmap for universities to become future knowledge hubs. The efforts in this direction fall in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who said “I am convinced that teaching our children in the same way we did yesterday is in itself perpetuating a new kind of illiteracy that no longer has a place in any society that wishes to join the global race.” Dr. Al Awar was addressing the audience during a lecture titled ‘Forging New Horizons: Learning Re-Imagined,’ at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in the presence of a panel of academics and government officials, headed by Professor Dr. Alawi Alsheikh Ali, Dean of College of Medicine. The session highlighted

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the most outstanding achievements of HBMSU’s progress, which has taken the lead in the restructuring of the higher education sector locally, regionally and globally, based on technology, innovation, creativity and scientific research as foundations for building future skills required to drive progress and development in the 21st century. Dr. Mansoor Al Awar said that under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and the University President, the University has become a model that reflects the future of higher education based on three pillars: innovation, disruption and transformation, providing solid foundations for smart learning and lifelong learning. It became the first academic institution to support the ‘50-year charter’ by creating an educational system that identifies the talents of each learner, ensuring the development of his/her competencies to keep pace with the

During the session, he also highlighted the HBMSU’s experience in adopting the methodology of games in learning as a unique gesture that has acquired global intellectual property. This has enabled the University to provide the best education for future innovators by harnessing new futuristic educational tools, thereby leading the efforts towards the achievement of Dubai’s eight principles, making it a land of talent, great minds and best ideas. Furthermore, Dr. Al Awar emphasized the pioneering experience that qualifies HBMSU to redefine the roles of learners, faculty members, curriculum management and educational environments. The University focuses on supporting learners to transform them from receivers to contributors in the creation, and enrichment of knowledge. This leads to the creation of a new learning environment as a center to enhance knowledge movement, build intellectual capacity and to develop analytical skills. The Smart Campus supports the University’s vision to become the world’s foremost educational institution in next 10 years by providing a learning environment that fosters innovation, creativity and excellence, with interactive, sustainable and innovative features that ensure a unique experience for learners and academics. Dr. Al Awar added that building effective strategic partnerships has been one of the contributing factors

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to HBMSU’s success in reaching the forefront of the global higher education sector. Al Awar underscored the importance of changing the established rules of traditional education by replacing it with a unique learning experience through the integration of smart technologies. He also emphasized that the University is leading the race today based on the basic criteria of academic excellence, innovation, creative thinking, communication, passion for knowledge and promotion of national identity. By integrating advanced technologies such as cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality and Internet of Things (IoT) in today’s educational system young learners must be equipped with skills required to lead a knowledge-based economy, thereby making them creatively qualified innovators, for the realization of the vision for the country’s future.

At the end of the lecture, the HBMSU Chancellor called on the academic institutions in the UAE to adopt latest technology to advance education. He emphasized that the University is committed to sharing its pioneering experience as the first accredited university to provide smart learning in the region, to assist the development of the UAE’s education sector. These

efforts are based on the indicators of the UAE Vision 2021 national agenda and goals set by the ‘50-year charter,’ and highlights the University’s keenness to implement the ‘Middle East e-learning quality framework,’ which aims to promote direct access to quality education using advanced technology, in a context consistent with the needs of the Middle East region.

DoH reveals latest recommendations for Cervical Cancer screenings

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he Department of Health—Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has called on the importance of early cancer detection. The most recent recommendations stress the importance for women aged 2529 to perform a Pap smear screening at least once every three years. DoH strongly recommends that women aged 15-26 perform Pap smear as well as human papillomavirus (HPV) screenings, which were recently introduced as part of early cervical cancer screening tests. Recent World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations indicate that tests should be conducted once every five years.

According to the latest statistics from DoH, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. Commenting on this, Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Director of the Public Health division at DoH, said: “As part of our strong belief that ‘prevention is better than cure’, and our commitment to achieving a healthier Abu Dhabi, we have updated our recommendations on cervical cancer screenings. These are based on scientific research and international updates. We call upon all community members and healthcare providers to comply with these suggestions. Early cervical cancer screenings are a preventive measure that help

detect changes in cells before reaching the cancer stage.” Al Hajri added: “The older women become, the less their immune systems are resistant to diseases such as HPV. To ensure the best preventive measures are taken to reduce this disease, we stress the importance of conducting regular HPV screenings.” DoH has called on women living in the Emirate to conduct the required preventive measures to reduce the risk of cervical cancer caused by HPV. The chances of receiving the virus is relatively high due to several factors which include smoking, early pregnancy (less than 17 years of age), AIDS, as well as the intake of oral contraceptives for five years or more.

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Orion Health & Abu Dhabi Health Data Services Announce Partnership to Deliver the 1st Health Information Exchange in the Middle East of HIE systems, serving more than 100 million health records across the world. The highly scalable platform will also have the capability to harness the power of patient and population data, and by creating insights into the emirate’s public health, will have a significant impact on improving the overall efficiency of Abu Dhabi’s health system.

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rion Health announced a commercial agreement with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services, a new project company established as part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Department of HealthAbu Dhabi (DoH) and Injazat Data Systems, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala Investment Company, to deliver a Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform. The HIE will be known as “Malaffi” and is the first of its kind in the Middle East. “Malaffi” will provide a platform that will centrally store and enable the meaningful exchange of patient health information between healthcare professionals and will ultimately connect 2,000 public and private healthcare providers in Abu Dhabi. “Malaffi” was officially launched on 23 January, and is initially joined by six Abu Dhabi healthcare organizations, including SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Imperial College Diabetes Centre, Healthpoint, United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) group and Oasis Hospital, Al Ain. The access to the centralized patient records will provide physicians with a tool to make well informed, fast decisions, enhance patient safety, reduce the duplication of diagnostic procedures and ultimately improve the quality of care and outcomes. The HIE platform is powered by Orion Health, a global leader in health care technology and the implementation

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“The Department of Health-Abu Dhabi has recognized the need to centrally and efficiently, store, exchange, and analyze the enormous amount of data that is being created in healthcare every day, and by using advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, to drive the digital transformation of the healthcare system, for a happier and healthier Abu Dhabi. The partnership with Orion Health, will enable us to deliver a best-in-class HIE platform, that will guarantee the success of connecting all Abu Dhabi healthcare providers, and place Abu Dhabi on the top of the global map of successful HIE implementations,” said Atif Al Braiki, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Health Data Services. Orion Health Chief Executive Officer, Ian McCrae said: “Orion Health is delighted to be selected as the partner of choice, to deliver UAE’s first HIE platform. Storing and aggregating vast volumes of different clinical data, and surfacing it in data analytics, will bring Abu Dhabi a step closer to the practice of precision medicine, which is only possible when health providers have a complete picture of a person’s health. Today, healthcare systems around the world, annually waste more than a trillion dollars on healthcare spend, from unnecessary administration, avoidable lab and radiology testing, and readmissions of patients into hospitals. “Malaffi” will use the most current technology and data analytics, that will reduce the avoidable and duplicated procedures, and therefore improve the efficiency of Abu Dhabi’s health systems and the overall delivery of care.” For the first time, “Malaffi” was showcased at the stand of the DoH, during Arab Health 2019, from January 28th to January 31st, at the Dubai World Trade Center (Hall 5, Stand N H5B40).

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