By Uday Shankar Kizhepat Uday Shankar Kizhepat Prior to 2020, the Middle East’s healthcare sector was looking at ways to improve its processes. Progress was steady, though perhaps not exceptional. But that all changed when the pandemic forced a rapid and sweeping evolution. Suddenly facing a systemic threat, providers had to revisit the patient experience. Virtual consultation is an excellent example of how healthcare providers have since used digital tools to take the strain off resources. Initially seen as a means of keeping all but the most critical cases away from hospitals and clinics, te ..read more

The state-of-the-art diabetes facility in Al Dhafra, set to open later this year. In a regional first, the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), part of the M42 group, will open a dedicated one-stop facility in Madinat Zayed to provide comprehensive care for diabetes and endocrine patients. With a proven track-record of nearly two decades, ICLDC’s model for diabetes prevention and management has significantly reduced HbA1c values in patients across the UAE. The new tech-enabled, world-class centre in Al Dhafra will serve a critical part of Abu Dhabi’s population, providing targeted ..read more

World’s leading fitness equipment manufacturer is official supplier to Olympics On the occasion of their 40th anniversary, Middle East Health speaks to Nerio Alessandri, the founder of Technogym, about the company’s world-leading fitness equipment and their relationship with the Olympics. Technogym is world leader in the Fitness and Wellness solutions sector and has equipped 80,000 wellness centres and more than 500,000 homes around the world. It is estimated that approximately 50 million people use Technogym products every day. Nerio Alessandri, founder of Technogym, observes the company’s of ..read more

In a landmark study, an international consortium led by researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) published the final results of a key clinical trial of the gene therapy CASGEVY (exagamglogene autotemcel) for the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients 12 years and older with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). The study found that 96.7% of patients in the study did not have any VOCs – a blockage that results in lack of oxygen and painful episodes – for at least one year, and 100% were able to remain hospitalization free for the same length of time. The findings, pub ..read more

Transmission electron micrograph of hepatitis B virus particles, shown in green. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 Global Hepatitis Report <https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240091672>, the number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis is increasing. The disease is the second leading infectious cause of death globally – with 1.3 million deaths per year, the same as tuberculosis. The report, released at the recent World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, highlights that despite better tools for diagnosis and treatment, and decreasing product prices ..read more

How will innovative diagnostics illuminate our fight against cancer? Dr Farooq Ghani, Chief Medical Officer at PureLab For millions of people, cancer casts a long shadow – the knock of its physical impact growing with each day. The figures are more than just statistics; they represent many of our loved ones, friends, and family members. It’s exactly why, in just one year, that is, 2020, it caused 19.3 million new cases of the incurable disease and purportedly touched the ground of 10 million heartbreaking losses.1 It’s estimated that by 2040, we are going to be looking down the barrel of 30 mi ..read more

Integrating OMRON COMPLETE into cardiac care OMRON COMPLETE is an innovative 2-in-1 device that combines a home blood pressure monitor with a 1-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Designed to address the critical needs in the management of atrial fibrillation (AFib) – the most common type of serious arrhythmia – this tool is pivotal in early detection and continuous monitoring of patients, significantly enhancing cardiac care. Evidence-based impact Clinical studies underscore the effectiveness of OMRON COMPLETE in identifying atrial fibrillation. One such study involved 1,607 elderly patients, whe ..read more

A new survey shows physicians are optimistic about using generative AI in healthcare clinical decision-making and patient care, but having a trusted content source is key to adoption. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is poised to transform healthcare industry and the way clinicians deliver care. An analysis by McKinsey suggests there is an unrealized $1 trillion of improvement potential within the healthcare industry through efficiencies like better data interpretation, automating tedious work, and more quickly surfacing the latest research to clinicians’ fingertips. However, unles ..read more

The Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) at Guy’s Hospital is known worldwide as a leading provider of fertility treatments and treats over 2,000 patients a year, including many from the Middle East. We are proud to offer evidence-based practice to our patients alongside innovative treatments and the highest standards of consultant-led, personalised care from one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious teaching hospitals. ACU consultant team (L to R) – Mr Tarek El-Touky, Dr Julia Kopeika, Mrs Jan Grace, Professor Yacoub Khalaf. As part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, our comprehensiv ..read more

Philips Future Health Index Report Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, recently published it annual Future Health Index (FHI) 2023 Saudi Arabia report: Taking Healthcare Everywhere. Now in its eighth year, the Future Health Index is based on proprietary research across 14 countries, including Saudi Arabia, making it the largest global survey of its kind to analyse the current and future priorities of healthcare leaders worldwide. The FHI 2023 Saudi Arabia report provides a clear indication of strong momentum in innovation and digital transformation within the Kingdom’s healt ..read more