Dubai – United Arab Emirates, 19th of February 2014: The International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition concluded today after three days of scientific sessions, workshops and symposiums. More than 2000 visitors and participants attended the event with a general consensus that IFM had exceeded expectations and witnessed a great success in its first edition. The event was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority.
Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki, Scientific Chairperson of IFM said: “I am very happy with the number of participation and visitors that IFM had witnesses this year in its first edition. I am also glad with the great feedback I heard from the conference’s attendees regarding the scientific sessions that were held throughout the 3 days. This will definitely urge us to excel more and more next year in terms of the scientific conference and the exhibition.”
The IFM Conference and Exhibition aimed at promoting the important role of family physicians who are considered the frontline of the healthcare system and they present an integrated role between primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities, thus providing health maintenance and the preventive services to each individual including biological, behavior and social.
Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Director of the International Family Medicine Conference & Exhibition and the Global Family Medicine Alliance said: “the IFM Conference and Exhibition provides scientific medical developments and clinical learning opportunities for healthcare professionals, physician, and allied professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, medical researchers and technicians from all parts of the Middle East and the world.
This year the program was based on the 3 major important themes for primary healthcare and it focused on Diabetes, CVD, obesity, Respiratory and allergy. According to the World Health Organization statistics proved that more than 371 million people are living with diabetes today, 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2011, 235 million people currently suffer from asthma, and 17.3 million people die of cardiovascular diseases every year.
On the sidelines of IFM Conference and Exhibition, the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance Meeting was held and presided by more than 20 doctors and specialists representing number of healthcare institutions and organizations from several GCC and international countries. During the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance Meeting health representatives discussed prevention programs and the outcome of their meetings at IFM this year; in addition, they also discussed new themes to be covered next year during IFM Conference an Exhibition that will improve Family medicine which is an important medical specialty that provides a comprehensive care for the individual, the family, and the community.
Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani welcomed all members and attendees who came for the first meeting of the Global Scientific Family Medicine Alliance and reassured that this meeting is only the beginning of many more scientific gatherings and meetings that will add more to the family medicine field. Dr. Al Madani continued: “we strive through those meetings to provide high-quality contributions from doctors and practitioners in a variety of specialties and academic fields. And I am very delighted that through this meeting we highlighted innovative procedures and technologies and managed to examine current controversies in treatment, in addition to providing updates on the latest advances and treatment of diseases mainly diabetes and obesity.”
From his side Dr. Tawfik Khoja Director General of the Executive Board of Health Ministers’ Council for GCC States said: “this is a great initiative that brings leaders of family medicine from around the world in one place to improve the family medicine health services. I believe it is time to have more emphasis on family medicine and primary healthcare and improve it in the GCC countries in specific and the Arab world in general. We shall work on improving the issue of research, as without scientific approach we can’t build healthcare system, and it is time for the GCC to have an evidence based approach to build together a stronger healthcare system.”
Dr. Ibtesam Al Bastaki added: “We have an identity for IFM and for this alliance which made us different from other scientific meetings. We are purely scientific and aim for exchanging knowledge and sharing experiences. In the coming years we are hoping to cover new themes that will emphasize on improving the relationship between the family doctors and the patients which in turn will lead to a better service. Next year themes might fall under topics such as Motherhood and Childhood, Occupational Health, and Rehabilitation.
At the end of the Global Family Medicine Scientific Alliance Meeting, Dr. Khoja received a token of appreciation from Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani for his great contribution in this Conference and Exhibition.
A ceremony was held in conclusion of IFM and a number of awards were distributed to the best paper and best poster presentation. And from his side Dr. Abdul Salam Concluded: “I was pleased to find attendees from Qatar, KSA and other countries during the first day. And with the success achieved this year, we have high expectations for the next season of IFM which will occur next year and also in Dubai.”
IFM Conference and Exhibition is organized by INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions a member of INDEX Holding and in cooperation with the Dubai Health Authority.
International Family Medicine Conference & Exhibition
Attracta D'Silva
Project Manager
Phone: 04 362 4717 Ext: 116
Mobile: 050 515 2975
Email: attracta.dsilva@index.ae