Further collaboration between the laboratory and clinicians to bridge the gap towards better holistic patient care in the GCC

With the laboratory testing market in the GCC expected to grow at a CAGR of up to 6.5%, the MEDLAB Exhibition & Congress is to focus on facilitating a closer relationship between caregivers

Dubai, UAE. January 03 2017:  MEDLAB Exhibition & Congress, the world’s leading event for laboratory management and diagnostics, has introduced a new focus for its scientific programme for 2017 with updates on laboratory testing and developments in clinical diagnostics. It will review the expanding role of laboratory medicine in patient care in the GCC and will feature the correlation of tasks between a laboratory professional and a clinician, in analysing algorithms of the disease, test interpretations and standards in reporting.

In 2016, the global in-vitro diagnostics market (universally known as ‘laboratory tests’), in which MEDLAB offers a critical platform, was estimated to be worth USD 60.07 billion and is expected to grow at a steady CAGR of 5.2% to be worth USD 77.38 billion by 2021 . Growing at a similar pace (estimated 6.5% by 2018  in Saudi Arabia and 5.23% in UAE by 2020 ) in the GCC, the increase is due to several factors such as the strong rise in the incidences of chronic diseases and the rise in the research and development efforts from the key market players.

Simon Page, Managing Director of Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the organiser of MEDLAB said: “The relationship between the laboratory and the clinician has become increasingly important as countries in the region continue to adopt a patient-centric approach to healthcare. Each step in the process is critically important and all parties included should work together to deliver a more holistic approach. At MEDLAB 2017, we aim to be able to facilitate that discussion and opportunity for a closer relationship between caregivers.”

In an effort to bridge the gap between laboratory professionals and doctors, MEDLAB will host the first Laboratory Informatics conference in the region in order to effectively implement technology for laboratory information management and to explore how to efficiently manage laboratory data in electronic medical records systems in the Middle East. 

Dr Aaron Han, Chief, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Acting Chief Medical Officer at American Hospital said: 
"As medicine undergoes fundamental transformation in how it is delivered, and new technological innovations bring us new possibilities in diagnosis and treatment, the laboratory has a key role to play in the new healthcare paradigm. MEDLAB provides a forum to bring the diverse players together. The technology entrepreneur, the lab scientist, and the clinician, are given the opportunity for cross fertilization of ideas and practices. 

“The collective of leading healthcare professionals and sharing their diverse skills, perspectives and experiences, leads to fruitful collaborations, enhances care, and elevates our daily work to new vistas. We may work in different parts of the medical ecosystem, yet we are all united through a shared commitment to the wellbeing and health of populations and individuals”, Dr Han added. 

MEDLAB offers over 11 CME-accredited multi-disciplinary conference tracks featuring topics such as laboratory management, molecular diagnostics and clinical chemistry. This year's congress introduces new conferences about blood transfusion medicine, cardiac markers, laboratory testing and the management of diabetes, as well as laboratory informatics. 

Dr Mansour Al-Zarouni, Member, General Secretariat Committee at Sultan Bin Khalifa International Thalassemia Award (SITA) and Chair of MEDLAB said: “Transforming scientific advances occurring in our laboratories into patient care is a challenge, but one that needs to be addressed in order to improve healthcare. It is essential that laboratory workers and clinicians work together to convert modern science into medicine that saves lives.  This is why MEDLAB this year will focus on bridging the gap between clinicians and laboratory workers in all areas of healthcare – from the dynamics of lab chains to cardiac markers.

“It is essential that every effort is made to further improve collaboration and holistic ways of working. MEDLAB will play a crucial role in inspiring innovative and progressive ways to accelerate standards of patient care in both the GCC and the rest of the world.” 

As a platform for the pioneers in the industry to showcase their innovation, MEDLAB will host more than 700 of the world’s leading laboratory management and diagnostics brands such as Abbott, Siemens Healthineers, Snibe Diagnostic, Beckman Coulter and many more. 

Featuring the latest updates and innovation in the laboratory industry, MEDLAB is now a standalone event after 15 years of success as part of Arab Health, the region’s largest healthcare trade exhibition and congress. MEDLAB will run from the 6th - 9th February 2017 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, for the sole purpose of improving the laboratory industry developments and assist in delivering patient care.