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Why You Should Attend HIMSS MiddleEast09
Boom in Healthcare Spending Set to Spur IT
According to McKinsey & Company research, direct health spending in the GCC will rise by 300 percent to US$60bn in 2025 compared with US$15bn in 2008. The report’s author, Viktor Hediger, Middle East healthcare leader at McKinsey, a US market research organization, the region’s healthcare market is one of the fastest-growing in the world.
With such expected growth, healthcare leaders can’t afford to miss the upcoming conference, the first conference in the Middle East hosted by HIMSS, on 5-7 May 2009 in Manama, Bahrain. The three-day conference expects to attract professionals from the six-country GCC region, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, among others. It will focus on healthcare IT and insurance trends and adoption in the Gulf region and healthcare IT and management excellence.
“Governments throughout the Gulf region are demonstrating clear commitments to improving the healthcare delivery systems of their countries through information technology,” said H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS president and CEO. “We worked with the ministries of health in the region to develop HIMSS MiddleEast09, and therefore, bring world-class education and professional development to the region’s IT professionals and healthcare management executives.”
According to the report ‘Sustainable and Profitable Healthcare Investment in the Middle East’:
- The UAE healthcare market will grow over 14 percent annually between 2005 and 2015, from US$3.2 billion to US$11.9 billion.
- Bahrain's pharmaceutical market, which was worth an estimated US$58.3 million in 2007, is expected to reach US$83.8 million by 2012, while Saudi Arabia is planning to increase the number of hospitals from 264 to over 500 in the next seven years.
- One of the most significant forces driving expansion of the Gulf healthcare system is rapid population growth, which is estimated to reach over 520 million by 2030. This expansion is also being powered by the concept of health cities and e-health initiatives by Gulf governments, such as Dubai Health City and King Abdulaziz Medical City.
More About…the Conference Partner Sponsors
With the conference just six weeks away, learn more about the Partner sponsors who will be on-site 5-7 May. The HIMSS MiddleEast09 Conference Newsletter asked these sponsors for their perspective on being part of this event and the growth of health IT in the Gulf region. Here are comments from two of the HIMSS MiddleEast09 Partner sponsors. Look for more information on the Partner sponsors in the April edition of the newsletter.
“Operating in more than 60 countries including the Middle East, we at Kronos have learned that the objective of a healthcare organisation in any part of the world is to optimise its workforce resources to support the delivery of quality care. Our leading workforce management solutions help organisations do just that, by controlling labour costs, aligning the workforce with patient demand in 24/7 environments, and enhancing employee satisfaction with rosters and schedules that take staff preferences into account. Through these outcomes, we have been helping healthcare organisations strike the balance of improving productivity and enhancing the quality of patient care. As the leading global healthcare workforce management solutions provider, in partnership with our local partner Security 1, we are very excited to work alongside HIMSS in bringing a premier healthcare IT conference to the Middle East and addressing pressing issues with an expanding global audience.”
Brian Graves
Global Practice Leader of Healthcare
Kronos Incorporated
"Lawson is the leader in Healthcare Business Management Solutions with a growing presence in the Middle East. We assist healthcare organizations in streamlining processes, reducing costs and enhancing operational performance. We are leveraging relationships with global health providers and local entities to primarily provide solutions to Acute Care Hospitals. Lawson provides the only healthcare-focused business management solution with specific functionality for healthcare, as well as an organizational commitment to the healthcare market. There is a need to provide healthcare in the emerging Middle East market and our systematic approach to managing the healthcare business has been the key to our success. With a growing list of global healthcare customers and a commitment to the Middle East market, Lawson is providing world-class proven solutions to hospitals and health providers who are in the next phase of system adoption to help provide better outcomes and patient value."
Bill Hill
Vice President
EMEHA Healthcare
Lawson
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A Conversation with an Industry Visionary
The HIMSS MiddleEast09 International Planning Committee provided strategic recommendations to HIMSS in developing the program for the conference. In each issue of this newsletter, a member of the committee provides his/her perspective on healthcare IT issues and trends in the Gulf region.
Read on to learn more from Richard A. Rhodes, PhD, IT Development Project Director, Sidra Medical & Research Center, Qatar Foundation, on this topic.
Q: What are the top three reasons for attending HIMSS Middle East09?
A. As a HIMSS member, I am excited about HIMSS coming to the Middle East and I want to show my support. I have members of my staff presenting at the conference. And - HIMSS always does a good conference and it’s a chance to network
Q. What is the benefit of new technologies in healthcare to the Middle East?
A. New technology in the Middle East means we are moving into the 21st century in healthcare. This area has lagged behind, and still is, but we can help to push it along more rapidly with new tech. It’s an open field, not bound by legacy systems, so we can try new and innovative ideas
Q. What could help the region lead the transformation of healthcare with health IT? In other words, what needs to happen in the region so that it can lead healthcare improvement with health IT?
A. The region just needs people to come and show what IT can do to help them. They are willing to try new ideas and new tech. We need commitment from the West.
Q. What are some specific solutions you and your colleagues look for at a healthcare IT conference?
A. For my part, since we are a startup, we are looking for good lessons learned and information on core applications.
Q. What are the major industry challenges/problems/issues your profession faces?
A. In the Middle East, it’s lack of knowledge in healthcare IT. A major challenge is recruitment. Another is having vendors that are willing to come and stay the distance.
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