The UAE tops the list of Gulf and other Arab countries in annual per capita consumption of medicines, according to BinSina Pharmacy.

A growing population mainly dominated by expatriate communities in the UAE has given rise to a rapidly growing market for healthcare and its associated industries, said Bin Sina -  the only pharmacy of the 1,400 operating in the UAE that has showcased its latest offerings at the 2008 Arab Health Show.

"Being the region's premier healthcare event, we felt it is imperative to participate at this year's Arab Health Show. Our commitment to improving the pharmaceutical sector in the region stems from our solid position as the Middle East’s leading pharmacy," said BinSina Pharmacy Marketing Manager Ayman Hanbali.

"The UAE healthcare market, which is growing at more than 15 per cent annually, is projected to rise from $3.2bn in 2005 to $11.9bn in 2015," said Hanbali.

BinSina Pharmacy demonstrated its leading position as one of the early adopters of latest information technology solutions to revolutionize both the healthcare system and the nation's pharmaceutical supply chain, for better pharmaceutical and healthcare services in the region.

"We displayed our series of initiatives in deploying an automated Pharmacy Management System (PMS) and labeling system in all our outlets around the UAE, at the show. We firmly believe that having an electronic medication record for every individual is a critical step towards achieving true healthcare excellence through giving its pharmacists real-time data that ensure safety and efficiency. With many customers in the UAE relying on different medications, a BinSina pharmacist has an accurate and up-to-date medication list for every patient to avoid the potentially harmful effects of a negative drug interaction and to check contraindications between old and new medications," said Hanbali.

"Of the 1,400 pharmacies in the UAE, more than 30 are owned by BinSina which has managed to capture a 10 per cent market share with its wide presence across the UAE. We have urged other pharmacies to adopt the skills and know-how to drive the change in the way they offer their services with the growth and proliferation of electronic health records and systems in healthcare today," he said.

BinSina Pharmacy has also conducted live presentations on health stories, tips, and advice via high-end plasma screens showing how to live a healthier life via the network of outlets in the UAE.

"The UAE is setting trends in providing best healthcare standards on a public and private level, not only for the growing population within the country but also for patients from across the region seeking the best medical facilities. In this respect, we have launched an awareness broadcast campaign at our 30 outlets in the UAE to enhance interaction with our customers," he said. – TradeArabia News Service