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Dubai – United Arab Emirates, 24 February, 2020: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of DHA today officially inaugurated the 7th edition of International Family Medicine Conference – a specialty medical gathering dedicated for family physicians and practitioners, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Running under the theme ‘Gateway to Excellence in Healthcare’, the 3-day premier healthcare event being held until the 26th of February, 2020, aims to highlight the latest developments, new research studies, innovations and technology advancements, particularly in the field of family medicine.

This year, IFM is expected to draw over 3,000 visitors and participants over the 3 days. While the conference presents a rich comprehensive agenda witnessing the presence of 50 speakers, who offer their insights on very important topics related to family medicine during 38 scientific sessions and 2 dedicated workshops, the premier specialty gathering also hosts over 50 poster presentations, showcasing the latest research and many studies on key topics related to family medicine.

During his keynote speech, His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami said, “International Family Medicine Conference is considered a converging point to exchange knowledge and experiences as well as discussing the latest advancements in the field of family medicine and its related branches that is developing year after year.The importance of family medicine as a distinct specialty comes out of its position as a primary healthcare department that all healthcare institutions depend on to enhance the diagnostics and practices for disease prevention.Therefore, family medicine is directly related to the primary healthcare systems, and is considered as a vital approach to health and wellbeing by the World Health Organization.”

His Excellency added, “The family medicine field also includes all the needs and priorities of individuals and families comprising various medical services. It is not merely limited to providing immediate health services and it is more comprehensive as an integrated system of care, which is heavily relied upon in the early detection of diseases. Moreover, family medicine also helps in the development of preventive and curative plans and programs, for each family and all members of the society.”

He concluded, “The Dubai Health Authority (DHA)believes thatfamily medicine is the basis for promoting the health of all members of the society and the quality of life of people. It also considers this medical specialty as a priority when setting its policies, plans, and development programs and it works continuously to update primary healthcare centers, and all departments and specialties related to family medicine across allits medical facilities.”

While commenting on the occasion, Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Conference Chairperson, IFM 2020, said, “In its 7th edition, International Family Medicine Conference will specifically focus on all the latest healthcare updates related to innovation adoption and the introduction of new technology advances in the practice of family medicine. IFM aims to address all related healthcare topics within the field of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care PHC, such as valued based healthcare outcomes, mental health and a key focus on chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.”

Dr. Ibtesam added, “At IFM, werecognize that there is a need to create a robust relationship between the patient and the familyphysician not only to address physical and mental issues afflicting patients but also to offer them help on various social aspects. Family medicine as a distinct medical specialty serves people of all age groups delivering continuous and personal care to all members of the family and we firmly believe that this critical health care department will also provide a one stop shop care to meet all the needs of the patient.”

From his side, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of the International Family Medicine Conference and the Honorary President of the International Scientific Union of Family Medicine, “The government of the United Arab Emirates works tirelessly to promote the health and the wellbeing of all members of the society. It is also keen to develop the healthcare sector and provide the best medical services in line with the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda that aim at implementing a healthcare system at par with the highest international standards. Meanwhile, we are witnessing the start of the 7th edition of the International Family Medicine Conference, which will provide a scientific and medical platform that brings together doctors, experts, specialists and workers in the field of family medicine from the region and the world under one roof in order to discuss the challenges facing specialists in this field and the most prominent strategies to achieve a happier and more prosperous society.”
He added“As the organizers of this scientific event, I would like to thank all doctors, experts and family medicine professionals for their active participation in this year’s edition, and we are confident that the International Family Medicine Conference will achieve its goals in disseminating knowledge and experience to benefit all healthcare providers in the UAE. On the sidelines of this conference, the annual meeting of the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance is held to discuss with the concerned parties matters related to primary healthcare, health education and the infectious disease prevention, among other issues.”

On the first day, IFM conference addresses a number of key scientific issues and topics related to the field of family medicine such as ‘Changing Management in Primary Healthcare: A new role in a changing healthcare system’, ‘Where will Family Physician be in 30 years?’, ‘Diabetes & Cardiovascular Updates’, ‘Influenza Management, What’s New?, ‘The Challenges of Family Medicine in China’ and ‘Geriatrics’ among a few other issues.

On the sidelines, a dedicated workshop was heldunder the title ‘Diabetes Educator Essentials’ conducted by ‘Mubadala Healthcare’ and ‘Imperial College London Diabetes Center’, where family physicians offered their deep insights on the latest inthe treatment of diabetes.

Meanwhile, conference attendees get a chance to earn 19.25 CME credit points from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) while also receiving an opportunity to hone their skills and gain additional clinical expertise in the field of family medicine.

International Family Medicine Conference– IFMis organized annually by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – a member of INDEX Holding and is supported by the UAEMinistry of Health & Prevention, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and The Saudi Society for Evidence Based Healthcare. IFM is sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott, Roche, Medtronic, MSD, Mundipharma, gsk, Sandoz, Lundbeck and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Dubai – United Arab Emirates, 25 February, 2019: Under 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, today officially opened the 6^th edition of the International Family Medicine Conference, which is taking place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from the 25^th to the 27^th of February, 2019. The 3-day family medicine conference held under the theme ‘Improving Patient Care with Innovation and Technology’ brings 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 is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors and participants from various countries over the 3 days, while also witnessing the attendance of 50 international speakers.  In addition, the conference features 38 scientific sessions and 2 hands-on workshops specifically designed for clinical practitioners working in the industry. With the aim of improving the knowledge of students and professionals, IFM is also showcasing 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 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 health care 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 world class 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.

“Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki: In the UAE, the burden of drug addiction problem is estimated at 5.4 billion US dollars.”

 Dubai – United Arab Emirates,9^th of March 2017: The International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition (IFM) concluded today after three days of scientific sessions, workshops, and seminars. The 4^th edition of IFM has witnessed a remarkable success with the participation of 3,000 visitors and participants from all over the world.

IFM 2017 was marked with the participation of more than 60 top-notch speakers from the region and the world. The conference agenda this year has featured 14 intensive scientific sessions and 63 scientific posters, and the exhibition was marked with the participation of 90 companies from 72 countries.

Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Conference Chairperson said: “This year, we have focused on the role of family physician in detecting and treating substance abuse patient as this is evident in United Nations Office on drugs and crime (UNODC). The annual report 2015 showed that 246 million people use illicit drugs worldwide which means 1 out of 20 of the world population. It has also showed that 187,000 people die because of drug abuse. In the UAE, the burden of drug addiction problem is estimated at 5.4 billion US dollars.”

She continued on saying: “From quality outcome of the Primary Health Care, IFM has raised the topic of accreditations system, in addition to respiratory, geriatrics, and smoking cessation.”

IFM has become the ultimate platform for professional interaction and scientific discourse amongst healthcare specialists and practitioners to develop healthcare services in medical facilities and to keep up with global developments.

International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition is held annually under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, and it is organized yearly by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – member of INDEX Holding.

Medical Error, the 3rd Leading Cause of Death After Heart Diseases & Cancer

The International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition continues for the third consecutive day at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, highlighting the theme “Building a Culture of Excellence in Family Medicine”. The topics discussed during the conference revolved around the Role of Family Physicians in Detecting, Diagnosis, Early Intervention and Treating Substance Abuse Patients, Accreditation on Primary Health Care, Chronic Illness, Obesity, Mental Health, Cardiovascular Disease, as well as Revision in Communication Skills which are the core of family physician to build up a great rapport with the patient.

On the sidelines of IFM Conference and Exhibition, the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance Meeting was held and presided by more than 30 doctors and specialists representing number of healthcare institutions and organizations from the GCC and the world. During the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance Meeting health representatives discussed several topics such as quality of family practice, leadership improvement in the general practice, family medicine in community based intervention, ways to put innovative thoughts in general practice, methods to enhance patience safety in general practice and reduce malpractice and medication error.

Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of IFM and GFMSA said during the meeting; “the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance – GFMSA was established to promote the Family Medicine Education through science, dialogue and networking. The GFMSA is dedicated to encourage and guide the family medicine professionals and help them to contribute effectively to the community with their innovative ideas and services.”

Dr. Al Madani continued: “The GFMSA is not only a platform that fosters common objectives and goals covering various aspects of Family Medicine, it is also dedicated to inspire and guide the new generation of family medicine professionals and encourage them to learn, share their knowledge and innovative research while contributing to this industry and the community in general.”

From his side, Dr. Tawfik Khoja Director General of the Executive Board of Health Ministers’ Council for GCC States said: “We, the health care managers and decision makers, appreciate such partnership efforts and initiatives that enrich the knowledge, expertise, and skills of family medicine in the region, and helps to put the family medicine in the right place in the health care sector. With such initiatives, we can have consolidated ideas and movements to improve our efforts to give better and high-quality health care to our patients coming to primary care centers.”

He added: “There are so many objectives for this alliance, such as transferring knowledge and skills between countries, enhancing the process of innovative thoughts and ideas to have high quality family medicine practice in the region, formulating guidelines for common problems in the region, and enhancing and enriching the family medicine practice in the region and globally.”

He continued on saying: “This is the era of partnerships, without which we will be fragmented and we won’t be able to meet the challenges family medicine is facing. This alliance is the excellent platform to address such challenges and threats and turn them into chances to improve.”

On another scope, Prof/Dr. Faisal Abdullatif Alnasir, Honorary Faculty, Imperial College, London and Chairman; Home Health Care Centre has highlighted at IFM the third leading cause of death after heart diseases and cancer that many are unaware of, or they try to hide which is the issue of medical error.

He said: “According to a recent study that is published in the Journal of Patient Safety, it is estimated that between 210,000 and 440,000 patients suffer from medical errors that lead to death. Although the majority of such errors happen in the secondary and tertiary care, the primary care remains not spared. A review of 11 studies conducted in the primary health care settings found that the rates of medical errors ranged between 5 and 80 errors per 100,000 visits and that between 60 and 83% of all identified errors could be considered preventable.”

“Having said that, difficulties in doctor–patient communication was reported in several studies as an important cause of the error that nearly all were preventable, and this is one of the main issues that IFM will be addressing this year to prevent what can be preventable.” He concluded

On the other hand, the exhibition hosts 90 participating companies from 62 countries showcasing their latest technologies and innovative solutions in the field of family medicine.

The International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, and it is organized yearly by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – member of INDEX Holding. The event will continue until the 9th of March 2017, and it is supported by Ministry of Health & Prevention in the UAE, Dubai Health Authority, Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance, Health Ministers Council for Gulf Cooperation Council States, International Hospital Federation, Anti-Smoking International Alliance, INDEX Healthcare Management, and Dubai Sports Council.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the board of the Dubai Health Authority, accompanied by number of key figures and healthcare professionals attended today the opening ceremony of the 4th edition of The International Family Medicine Conference & Exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami announced during his opening speech: “The DHA is hard at work to establish a healthier and happier society, and to achieve that, we must provide high quality primary care services in our health centers and clinics found throughout Dubai and run by qualified family doctors. The DHA with all its hospitals and clinics, strives to lead at the forefront of global health institutions.”

His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami added: “With IFM Conference aiming this year to promote the ethics and standards of the primary healthcare system through continuous education and knowledge transfer, we look forward to developing a clear vision that helps in developing family medicine to be more capable of facing all current day challenges, and to be more responsive to the growing demand for its services.”

From his side, H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of Public Health, Ministry of Public Health in Qatar said: “I would like to take this great opportunity to congratulate the organizing and scientific committee for their tireless efforts over the past 4 years in organizing and managing such a memorable event. It is my great pleasure to meet this impressive number of participants from all over the world who came here to exchange experience and work together for “Building a Culture of Excellence in Family Medicine”.”

From her side, Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Director of VPS Healthcare for Dubai and Northern Emirates, and the Chairperson of IFM Conference said: “At IFM, we aim to promote the important role of family physicians whom we consider the frontline of the healthcare system. We also work on promoting the ethics and standards of the primary healthcare system through continuous education and knowledge transfer.”

Dr. Al Bastaki added: “In IFM 2017, we plan to concentrate on critical healthcare topics like the Role of Family Physicians in Detecting, Diagnosis, Early Intervention and Treating Substance Abuse Patients, and Accreditation on Primary Health Care. Both topics are being discussed for the first time in IFM.”

Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of IFM and GFMSA said: “Our utmost priority through IFM is to enhance the health sector in the UAE, through strengthening the concept of family medicine among society and educating the community on common medical emergencies, curative measures and areas that require comprehensive care.”

“We strive every year to bring the best knowledge and expertise from different parts of the world, while presenting new and innovative topics. This year IFM will host more than 60 speakers whom will deliver 14 sessions and 63 scientific posters. We also have 3,000 confirmed specialists and participants who will attend, visit and network in IFM 2017”. Added Dr. Al Madani

Dr. Al Madani also added: “IFM proves to be a perfect platform for delivering primary health care and presents a unique opportunity for family medicine practitioners and professionals from all facets of medicine, to interact with each other, share advancements and common concerns of their profession.”

On the other hand, IFM exhibition will be officially open tomorrow 7^th of March, being held in conjunction with the 22^nd Dubai International Pharmaceutical and Technologies Conference & Exhibition – DUPHAT. IFM 2017 will host more than 90 companies from 72 countries and a number of clinics participating from the UAE and the region.

The International Family Medicine Conference & Exhibition is organized yearly by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions – member of INDEX Holding, and it will continue until 9^th of March 2017. The event is also supported by Ministry of Health in the UAE, Dubai Health Authority, 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.