HEALTH MINISTRY REVIEWING DENTAL CLINIC NEEDS, SAYS AL MIDFA
ARAB HEALTH 2002 OPENS TO MINISTERIAL PRAISE


Release date: January 26, 2002.

UAE Minister of Health, His Excellency Hamad AbdulRahman Al Midfa,
today inaugurated the first annual showing of Arab Health – the
Middle East's premier hospital, medical equipment and services
exhibition – which began a four-day run at the Dubai World Trade
Centre.

Touring the show, which covers five DWTC halls and features 16
national pavilions and over 600 exhibitors from 45 countries, the
Minister praised the decision of organisers IIR Exhibitions to run
the show yearly saying it is a vital educational tool for medical
professionals to up-date themselves on latest industry developments.

And the Minister went on to say that the Federal Authority is
currently reviewing its dental clinic needs as part of its ongoing
commitment to providing excellence in healthcare.

"We are in the process of reviewing and renewing equipment in our
dental clinics. The Ministry is always seeking to update its systems
and services and this exhibition plays a vital role in the
procurement process.

"With the pace of change in the medical sector, we need an annual
showcase to ensure we are always fully cogniscant of the latest
healthcare technology."






Arab Health opening – 2

And the Minister, who was accompanied on the VIP opening tour by Dr.
Hirschler, the Secretary of State for Hessen in Germany, Mr Spitzner,
Secretary of State for Bavaria and His Excellency John Thwaites,
Deputy Premier and State Health Minister for Australia's state of
Victoria, whose states all have pavilions at Arab Health, stopped to
receive a brief on a new needle-less injection being launched at the
show by Rosch AG of Germany.

"I predict great success regionwide for this product which will be
extremely useful for diabetes sufferers," said the Minister.

The product, which has its Middle East debut at Arab Health, is being
presented to UAE Health Ministry official tomorrow, according to Dr.
Omar Mourad, General Manager, Bur Juman Pharmaceutical Companies, the
Middle East agent for the `Injex' product.

"There is a very high incidence of diabetes in the Middle East with
latest research showing it affects 24% of the UAE population and 12%
of the total GCC population," said Dr. Mourad. "We are hoping our
presentation to the Ministry will result in `Injex' being used
throughout Federal clinics."

Dr. Mourad added that the product had got off to a good regionwide
reception with 500 sets already sold in the UAE and 1,200 across the
Middle East."

Arab Health is officially supported by the UAE Ministry of Health
and, for the first time, is held under the patronage of His Highness
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE
Minister for Finance and Industry and President, Department of Health
and Medical Services, Government of Dubai.

Also for the first time, the show features three segment-specific
industry arenas, Pharmacy, the only Middle East event dedicated to
pharmacists, general practitioners and hospital medical staff, Arab
Dentistry and Medlab, for laboratory and biotechnology products.

Arab Health opening – 3

"All have been well received by the various disciplines and appear to
have a great future as vertical sections are becoming increasingly
popular with professionals who can be directed to their area of
expertise and hence maximise the value of their visit," said John
Hassett, Exhibitions Director, IIR Exhibitions.

Of the 16 national pavilions at Arab Health 2002, Germany with 100
exhibitors is the largest and has the support of four individual
Federal States – Saxony, Bavaria, Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz –
followed by the UK with 63 and Italy with 56.

Australia and Finland have their first national pavilions at the show
while the Korean pavilion, with 28 companies, is double the size of
its 2001 Arab Health showing and represents the country's largest-
ever turnout for a Dubai exhibition.

Arab Health 2002 also features a seven discipline conference
programme, including a ground-breaking E-health services summit with
experts from the USA, UK, Germany and Jordan outlining how the
Internet can revolutionise Middle East healthcare.

Over 35 speakers from 10 countries are addressing the conference
programme, devoted to a range of specialities, including radiology,
hospital management, ophthalmology, dentistry and surgery.

Meanwhile, IIR Exhibitions has announced a new exhibition catering to
the international health care services industry. The part trade, part
public show, will be a separate exhibition running alongside Arab
Health 2003, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from
January 26-29 next year.

For further information: Malcolm Ward, Arab Health press office:
Phone +9714 308 65 14; fax: +9714 308 65 31.

Or Barbara Saunders, MCS/Action, PO Box 20970, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates. Tel: +9714 3452126; fax: +9714 3460926
Email: barbara@...
Or visit the show online at: www.arabhealthonline.com