Record Product Launches at Arab Health 2014

The 2014 edition of the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress (Dubai, UAE), the Middle East’s largest healthcare expo, witnessed a record number of new product and solution launches.

More than 3,900 exhibiting companies, representing 63 countries—a 10% increase in number of exhibiting companies—helped Arab Health 2014 provide a platform for regional and international healthcare organizations, institutions, and professionals to share their latest innovations and contribute to the demanding patient needs. Over 85,000 visitors attended the expo and participated in the 19 healthcare conferences run concomitantly. Among the participants was GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, United Kingdom) who showcased their latest innovative medical technologies, services, and solutions for the first time in the Middle East.

“One of the landmark products being introduced to the region for the first time at the event is the Revolution CT scanner, a first-of-its-kind computed tomography system combining wide coverage, high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution technology into an ‘all in one’ CT system,” said Maher Abouzeid, President and CEO of GE Healthcare for the Middle East and Pakistan. “GE Healthcare will also launch the Centricity 360, which is designed to streamline clinical collaboration among caregivers and patients, and is built on GE’s Industrial Internet platform called Predix, connecting machines, people, and data to improve outcomes.”

Zebra Technologies (Lincolnshire, IL, USA) launched its LaserBand wristband technology and presented a preview of a new range of mobile printers for the Middle East healthcare sector, designed to help hospitals deliver accurate patient ID and labeling at the patient’s bedside.

Getinge (Getinge, Sweden) showcased a tailor-made cleaning and disinfection solution for EndoWrist instruments, used in the da Vinci Surgical System for robotic-assisted surgery.

“We are very happy to offer an automated solution for both 5 and 8 mm EndoWrist instruments approved by the instrument manufacturer Intuitive Surgical,” said Hanna Lindblom, Endowrist product manager at Getinge. “Our solution can process up to eight EndoWrist instruments per cycle, and as one operation set consists of three instruments, it enables the customer to increase the number of operations per day without increasing the number of instruments. This way there will always be a back-up.”

Rising healthcare costs and the growing demand for new technology have resulted in governments across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reviewing reforms and policies designed to promote private sector participation in meeting these demands. This comes at the same time that authorities are increasing their focus on medical technology, which in turn enhances quality and cost efficiency. Studies have revealed that new and advanced technologies lift healthcare costs by 38%–62%, as do high pharmaceutical costs.

Related Links:
Arab Health Exhibition & Congress
GE Healthcare
Zebra Technologies