Saudi Medicare 2010, the 13th international healthcare, hospital supplies and medical equipment show, will open tomorrow (April 12) at the newly-completed Riyadh International Exhibition Center.

The event will be inaugurated by Dr Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rabiah, Minister of Health, Saudi Arabia.

This year’s edition will feature the 1st Radiology Technologists Conference which along with the 4th Medical Devices Scientific Forum will extensively discuss opportunities to be opened up by the planned privatisation of over 200 government hospitals.

The exhibition will highlight Saudi Arabia’s thriving pharmaceutical and medical device markets, which are expected to grow at compound annual growth rates of 12 and 7 per cent respectively until 2012.

The surge will be fueled by aggressive government spending, as SR61.2 billion in federal funding has already been allocated for healthcare expenditure, as well as elevated national pharmaceutical and healthcare spending, which is projected to reach SR13.09 billion by 2013, said the statement.

The Saudi healthcare sector is set to top the region's market in terms of quality and sales, driven by the growing healthcare needs of the country's sizeable and relatively wealthy population, it said.

A wide group of local and international exhibitors will be displaying the latest healthcare products, services and technologies in 7,500 sq m of exhibition space, representing a 30 per cent increase on last year.

The forum and conference will feature 23 high-profile speakers who will discuss challenges, trends and developments within the medical field as well as assess prospects within the Saudi consumer healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector, which is expected to become a $3.49 billion industry by 2011.

Mohamed Al Hussaini, deputy general manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said: “The Saudi Government has clearly identified enhanced healthcare as a top priority within its development plans for the next few years as it seeks to enhance the well-being of its citizens and push its economic diversification agenda even further. This opens up numerous business and investment opportunities for those involved in the medical devices and services, healthcare insurance, pharmaceutical, and healthcare education fields which Saudi Medicare 2010 will bring to the table for local, regional and international individuals and groups to extensively explore.”

Other events running concurrently with Saudi Medicare 2010 are “Saudi Eye Care 2010 – The 6th International Eye Care and Optical Technology Exhibition” and “Saudi Dentistry 2010 – The 9th International Dental Health Exhibition.” The show is being held under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and is organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company. – TradeArabia News Service