Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA) finalizes participation in Arab Health Congress 2010

Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA) will be participating in the upcoming Arab Health Congress 2010 as both an exhibitor and the Leading Sponsor of the event.  Arab Health is by far the largest healthcare exhibition in the Middle East and the second largest in the world, and will be held at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from January 25 – 28.   This year all of SEHA’s hospitals and divisions will be showcasing their facilities and their businesses in individual pavilions within a single, larger exhibition space spread over two floors and 600 sq metres. 
“Participation in Arab Health Congress 2010 and competing for recognition in Arab Health Innovation and Achievement Awards is an opportunity for SEHA to showcase our achievements in the market and demonstrate our commitment to SEHA’s mission and vision,” says H.E. Saif Bader Al Qubaisi, Chairman of SEHA.  “We are very pleased to be this year’s Leading Congress Supporter for Arab Health and the Diamond Sponsor of the Awards program.  Each year we have increased our commitment to these events, and we look forward to the 2010 program as our most significant year yet.”
During the Congress, SEHA will showcase its progress since going operational in January 2008, as well as provide a glimpse into the future of healthcare delivery in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.  Two major development projects currently underway involve replacing SEHA’s Mafraq and Al Ain hospitals with new, state-of-the-art facilities by 2013.  Large models of these replacement hospitals will be on display at SEHA’s exhibit.  Other proposals from 2009 and recent accomplishments will be described in greater detail as the Congress begins.  
 SEHA is part of the Government of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector reform initiatives and represents another step in the realization of the vision of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, to provide the people of UAE with healthcare services competitive with the best available in the world.  Created by Emiri Decree #10 in April 2007, it is charged with managing and developing the curative activities of public hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi.  SEHA enjoys a market share of about 80% of Abu Dhabi’s inpatient admissions and about 60% of its outpatient visits, operating a total of 12 hospitals, 62 ambulatory and primary healthcare clinics, and two blood banks in Abu Dhabi.
“We want to provide people with a comprehensive view of who we are and how SEHA as a collective unit is advancing our agenda of developing a high-quality, integrated healthcare system competitive with the best systems in the world,” comments Mr. Carl V. Stanifer, CEO of SEHA. 
In the past year, three SEHA hospitals and clinics received re-certifications by Joint Commission International (JCI) while another large clinic at Khalifa City A received its first accreditation certificate.  Since being established in 2007, six of SEHA’s subsidiaries—including entities such as Al Corniche Hospital and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City—have received international accreditation for building and sustaining quality control programs.  SEHA also introduced a new Electronic Medical Records system across its operations during 2009, in addition to rolling out a number of other IT improvements including Oracle ERP, uniting SEHA’s businesses electronically for the first time. 
On the clinical side of SEHA’s operations, there were a number of exceptional cases handled during 2009 that will be discussed at this year’s Arab Health Congress.  These cutting-edge procedures include a rare open-heart procedure saving a young girl’s life, and an equally rare surgery to remove a huge disfiguring and life threatening tumour from a young boy.  Kidney transplants and life-saving cancer treatments were also provided to patients coming from all over UAE.  In supporting clinical best practices, SEHA sponsored the (MENA) NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Congress as well as the 8th International Congress - Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  These and other SEHA public health campaigns are outlined in the individual pavilions within SEHA’s exhibit. 
Over the last two years, SEHA has played a key role in advancing the healthcare reform agenda of the government of Abu Dhabi, bringing together the brightest minds in the international healthcare industry.  SEHA has partnered with several of the world’s leading institutions as part of its knowledge transfer program, including organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Bumrungrad International and Vienna Medical University, to name a few.
SEHA’s exhibit is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from January 25th-27th, and until 5:00 PM on January 28th. “We invite anyone interested in the future of healthcare delivery in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the region to visit our exhibit in Saeed Hall, booth #S3G10”, remarks James Ferrier, Corporate Marketing Manager for SEHA. 
This year’s Arab Health Congress will include 17 internationally-accredited conferences addressed by nearly 400 acclaimed speakers from around the globe.  More than 5,500 delegates and conference attendees are expected to participate in discussions around the Middle East healthcare market, which is valued at nearly $80 billion per year.