JEDDAH — MEDEXPO Saudi Arabia, the international healthcare exhibition and forum in the Kingdom, was inaugurated Saturday at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events. The exhibition offers excellent networking opportunities for medical professionals, and provides a dedicated platform for decision-makers to source the latest advances in healthcare technology, products and service solutions from an array of exhibitors from Saudi Arabia, the US, Taiwan, India, the Czech Republic, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, UK, France, Germany, China, Canada, Switzerland, Thailand, Pakistan, Egypt, Italy, Korea among others. MEDEXPO Saudi Arabia, supported by the Ministry of Health, focuses on a wide array of medical sectors including health, medical, ophthalmology, dentistry, laboratories, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical tourism. Dr. Sami Badawood, head of Jeddah Health Affairs, said: “We are pleased to be a part of this initiative and offer our support this year again for an event with such an impressive and ever-growing international representation. MEDEXPO Saudi Arabia is back to give us a great platform to showcase the advances and achievements of the Kingdom's healthcare industry on a dynamic international stage. Moreover, it offers us a unique opportunity to benefit from the collaboration and exchange of knowhow as well as best practices in developing world class medical facilities, which will go a long way in addressing the growing lifestyle diseases, and extending affordable and quality healthcare for all residents within Saudi Arabia.” A partner forum that includes workshops throughout the three-day event is being organized on the sidelines of MEDEXPO Saudi Arabia, where influential minds from both the public and private sectors in the Kingdom will come together to discuss the unique challenges facing the country's medical industry. The speakers at the forum will focus on the Building Center of Excellence for Biomedical Engineering, National and International Accreditation of Biomedical Engineering Department, and Quality Assurance in Radiology Department. The highly prominent healthcare experts will also debate innovative solutions based on best practices to create the blueprint for sustainable healthcare within the Kingdom. The exhibition will feature free seminars that visitors can attend to gain a valuable insight into the healthcare industry within the Kingdom and around the world. Adnan Mandorah, Secretary General of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “As one of the top 10 fastest growing countries in the world, MEDEXPO Saudi Arabia is quickly establishing the Kingdom as the healthcare hub in the region. This year the exhibition is witnessing a significant increase in exhibitors from around the world, and brings forth a dedicated show to support planners in achieving this development goal, which will result in 117 new hospitals, 750 primary health care centers and 400 emergency centers.” With MEDEXPO exhibition and forum in its second year, the show aims to address the high prevalence of lifestyle diseases, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and to support the Kingdom's vision in line with its Ninth Five-Year Plan. Elie Rizk, CEO of MICE Arabia Exhibitions and Conferences, believes that MEDEXPO is beginning to be considered an extremely important medical platform in the Kingdom. With lifestyle diseases on the rise and Saudi Arabia's imminent economic boom resulting in more than 400 hospitals, 2,037 primary healthcare centers, 80,000 physicians and 130,000 nurses in the healthcare sector, the event reinforces the view that the government is making great efforts toward allocating budgets to improve the healthcare sector in the Kingdom which in itself is an essential incentive for international companies to exhibit at the show. MEDEXPO will run until Monday, boasting over 200 exhibitors with more than 50 percent participation from international markets.
