Health exhibition, conference to begin on Sept 18

Technology, innovation and medical tourism will be highlighted at the Oman Health Exhibition and Conference (OHEC) from September 18-20 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In its 12th year, the three-day event, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, will feature the exhibition in two sections — medical products, services and equipment and medical tourism.

The first segment is for medical professionals — doctors, medical practitioners and nurses, whereas the second part will focus on those seeking medical support, services and treatment through overseas territories, explained Ashley Roberts, Managing Director, Connect, the event organiser.

He said, “The conference is an important part of the overall event in collaboration with our esteemed partners at the Ministry of Health. It is a free-to-attend conference with free accreditation from the Continued Professional Development (CPD) accreditation. It will be held daily from 9 am to 3 pm.”

On day two, the focus is mainly on the initiative from the World Health Organization looking at Patient Safety. The Ministry of Health will present the steps taken by the Sultanate of Oman by presenting case studies as well.

Dr Qamra al Sariri, Director General, Oman Quality Assurance Centre, Ministry of Health, said at the press conference held at Crowne Plaza Hotel that Oman is going through a growing and maturing population as well as a growing younger population. So, there is a need to diversify the medical services that are offered, and accordingly, the government has been launching a number of public hospitals as well as new hospitals in the private sector.

Dr Qamra said, “Such a large-scale event that brings national and international members of the health sector is necessary as Oman’s healthcare sector needs to share our experiences with the international healthcare sector.”

At the three-day event, the latest technology and innovations are expected to emphasise AI solutions that could help the Heath sector perform better.

In addition to brands from Oman and the GCC countries, the event will also see the participation of hospitals and clinics from India, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Poland, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Lebanon, with a lot to showcase in the way of medical tourism offerings.

OHEC is also supported by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance Centre (DGQAC), the Directorate of Private Health Establishment and the Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Drug Control (PADC).

At the event, Oman’s MHD ACERE will display HospiCare, focusing on providing high-quality products for different departments such as Emergency, Intensive Care Unit, Operation Theater and surgical products. Bluedot will have its state-of-the-art Air Ambulance and Medical Assistance services on display. Visitors will also witness the unveiling of Al Farsi Medical Supplies’ B2B e-commerce platform, HospitalShop.com, which offers over 10,000 products spanning medical, dental, and laboratory segments, and their locally manufactured medical equipment brand ‘Trusta’. This robust engagement underscores the industry’s acknowledgement of OHEC as a pivotal nexus for networking, showcasing innovations, and driving industry growth.

Another key highlight is the presence of the VIP delegation from Malaysia, headed by Farizal B Jaafar, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), at the inauguration on Sep 18. MHTC, alongside Malaysia’s leading private hospitals, namely Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, and Sunway Medical Centre, will showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, as well as explore collaborative opportunities to extend the reach of its quality and affordable healthcare to the Middle East.