There is a need for a comprehensive and high-quality future healthcare system for the Middle East region, a major conference has said.

Speakers from across the region took part in the Meed (Middle East Economic Digest) Dubai healthcare projects conference held on December 4 and 5 in Dubai.

Opportunities and challenges in the Middle East, innovation in regional medical research and development, the role of the public and private sectors in healthcare, and reconstructing the Middle East healthcare sector were among the other topics discussed and debated.

Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) Qatar was one of the participants at the event.

The college was an exhibitor at the two-day event with Dr Javaid Sheikh, vice dean for research, presenting the WCMC-Q model of international medical education. WCMC-Q will graduate its first 16 doctors, next year.

Commenting on the regional significance of Qatar’s participation in the conference, Dr. Sheikh said: "WCMC-Q is committed to regional health. Our triple mission of excellence in education, patient care and research is preparing young people in the region to be physicians, biomedical researchers and medical educators at the forefront of their fields. By sharing our experience, we hope to spur development in the field of health.” 

Alongside WCMC-Q was the Sidra Medical and Research Centre, Qatar’s new teaching and research hospital. The centre is due to open in 2011 and promises to further distinguish WCMC-Q as an academic medical centre of the highest quality, home to top-quality health care and research.

Daniel Bergin, executive project director of Sidra, was present at the conference to showcase Qatar’s newest healthcare project. --TradeArabia News Service