Mecomed Calls for Regulatory Harmonisation to Enhance Patient Access to Treatments across MENA

Inaugural MENA MedTech Regulatory Symposium to be held in Dubai to bring together the industry’s representatives

Dubai, UAE, September 15th, 2015:  Mecomed, the MENA Devices and Diagnostics Trade Association, will host the region’s first exclusive gathering between healthcare regulators and medical-technology professionals on 30th September 2015 in Dubai to better align their positions and help patients gain timely access to high quality life-saving therapies.

The MENA MedTech Regulatory Symposium offers a unique opportunity for the region’s MedTech regulatory professionals and leaders to learn directly from healthcare authorities on the latest updates in regional and international regulations of medical devices and diagnostics and exchange experiences and reports on key regulatory topics. Participants will also have the chance to identify focus areas for continuingly increasing patient access to safe and innovative therapies.

The inaugural event will be opened by His Excellency, Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and License Sector for UAE Ministry Of Health, and Chairman of the UAE Supreme National Blood Transfusion Committee. Dr. Al Amiri will be joined by key regional healthcare authority figures including, Mr. Hussam Mohammed Alaeq, Section Head of Scientific and Technical Review at Saudi Food & Drug Authority, Ph. Anan Saleh Abu Hassan, Director Assistant of Medical Devices Directorate and Head of Cosmetics Department at Jordan Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Miriam Boles Kostandy and Dr. Noha Osama Mohamed Abdel Monaem from Ministry of Health, Egypt.

Mecomed Chairman and VP Governmental Affairs of Sorin Group, Mr. Rami Rajab said: “The MedTech industry needs to be clear on the steps to follow to ensure they are complying with regulations in each market so patients can have access to treatment in a timely and cost effective manner and what better way to learn than directly from the source.”

Mecomed will bring key stakeholders from the region’s regulatory authorities to MedTech leaders to address topics such as quality management, development of regional and global collaborative schemes, pharmacovigilance, clinical trials, and adaptation of regulatory practices to new technologies.”

The event’s international speakers include Dr. Peter Drechsler, unannounced audits expert and former head of Test Laboratory for Non-Active Medical Devices at TÜV SÜD in Munich, who will cover updates on European regulations and unannounced audits, and Joanna Koh, an expert in medical device regulations from Singapore, who will present an introduction and guidance to well-balanced regulatory controls.

“Participants will benefit from comprehensive presentations on regional and global issues at stake in the MENA regulatory environment and will have the opportunity to engage in panel sessions that will enable in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing such as how European regulations impact on the MENA region,” Mr. Rajab added.

“Mecomed is focused on advancing patient care with the aim to improve access to high-quality healthcare for patients by collaborating with governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders to create innovative solutions and jointly shape the future of healthcare in the region. Events such as the MENA MedTech Regulatory Symposium enables this collaboration.”

The event comes in line with another key milestone for Mecomed, having just been granted an Operating Permit from Dubai Healthcare City Authority. Mecomed is expecting to complete the formalities and take possession of a Dubai headquarters at DHCC Business Center later this month.

The first MENA MedTech Regulatory Symposium will take place on Wednesday 30 September 2015 at the Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai.

All MENA MedTech professionals and healthcare regulators are encouraged to attend the event. Registration is free for Mecomed members, USD $100 for non-members and can be made by contacting Epin Kurra from InfoPlus Events at Kurra.Epin@InfoPlusEvents.com