Dubai - UAE, 7 December 2017: Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, and supported by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, Dr. Ahmed Bin Kalban, CEO, Hospital Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority inaugurated the 4th edition of the Emirates Society of Emergency Medicine Conference (ESEM17) today, the 7th December at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City.
In his opening speech while speaking to dignitaries, delegates and participants, he stated that there is no doubt that Dubai's globalization in various fields poses a challenge for the health sector, considering especially the daily influx of thousands into our city that in turn requires us to welcome them with the best care and medical treatment; built primarily, on emergency medicine and its sub-specialities in our hospitals. He also said that the Authority continues to provide these departments with the latest equipment, resources and medical supplies, in order to deal with all emergency situations, at any time, and in accordance with the highest international health and safety standards. This is what places hospitals, centres and emergency departments in Dubai at the forefront of their counterparts in the region.
During the ceremony, Dr Saleh Fares, President of Emirates Society of Emergency Medicine (ESEM) and Chair of the Conference, stated that in the UAE, Emergency care was not an option, but a high priority on the Government’s agenda in meeting the 2021 vision. From that vision, ESEM has taken its vision and mission of setting the bar high in promoting and empowering the delivery of high standard Emergency Medical care in in the country and ensuring the ability of the country to deal with any emergency.
He further added that ESEM17 is currently considered the largest Emergency Medicine Conference in the Middle East and is very proud to have collaborative projects with the governmental ministries and authorities across the country to start lifesaving projects like trauma, stroke, burn, STEMI systems, Hospital Disaster Preparedness, Blast management and Trauma Ultrasound. The EM community in the UAE is very active in conducting such high-caliber and internationally recognized educational activities, for which because of these, UAE has become a known destination in this field in the GCC.
Moreover, he announced the founding of a regional Emergency Medicine body which is now an approved institution by the International Federation for Emergency Medicine. The Gulf Federation of Emergency Medicine is now an ex-officio member led by Dr Ghada Qassim from the Kingdom of Bahrain. In addition to Emergency Medicine experts are working towards implementing “Good Samaritan Law” in the UAE. Once the law is passed and implemented, many more lives may be saved in the UAE daily and will position the UAE as the first Arab country to have such Law.
This year, ESEM17 Conference will present ten workshops apart from the plenary conference sessions, focusing on Advanced Paediatric Emergency Care, Wound Management, Critical Care, Eye Emergencies, Dental, Basic Ultrasound and others. More than 120 faculty, expert and keynote speakers from across the globe will be sharing the most recent update and breakthroughs in the field of Emergency Medicine over four days. The conference has been accredited by the Ministry of Health and Prevention with 22 CME points for the main conference and 33+ CME hours collectively for all the workshops.
The conference welcomes more than 1,500 participants from different parts of the world and will feature workshops, plenary sessions, abstract presentations, corporate symposium and exhibition.
