According to recent growth trends, the pharmaceutical sector of the GCC will touch US$ 7.6 billion by 2014 and it will grow to US$ 9.6 billion by 2019. The UAE will comprise 35 per cent of total GCC drug market spending with the UAE government actively encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) into the healthcare sector, emphasising the promotion of growth within the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
In an effort to highlight the burgeoning pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the Middle East, the third annual PABME Exhibition and Conference, an event organised by IIR Middle East Life Sciences Division, will offer pharmaceutical and biotechnology scientists and practitioners from around the world the opportunity to interact, network and exchange ideas and bring themselves and their organisation to the forefront of the discipline. The event will run from 23 – 25 May, 2010, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, UAE.
PABME is the region’s only event that is being formatted as a major exhibition with a multi-disciplinary conference running alongside. This will tackle global and regional issues such as, pharmaceutical registration, facilities design, upgrade and expansion, emerging technologies, marketing, clinical trials and current affairs.
Commenting on the role of the Steering and Advisory Committee, Dr Mohammed Abuelkhair, head of the Pharma/Medicine and Medical Products Regulation Section, Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD), and chair of the PABME Steering and Advisory Board, said: “The committee was set up to advise and support the organisers in identifying and prioritising the applicable scientific tracks, which are relevant and aligned to the current developments in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. The members of the committee are eminent personalities from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, including those from academia, regulatory, healthcare and clinical research areas, who are globally recognised for their contributions and well known in their area of expertise.”
Members of the 2010 Steering and Advisory committee include Marco Baccante - Executive Director, Dubiotech; Rania Al Shami - Director of Business Development, Ergomed; Mariam Galadari - Director, Global Pharma; Dr Firdos Khan - Manipal University; Amr El Naklawi - Marketing Leader ME Region, Sandoz; Dr Appaji - Executive Director, Pharmexcil; Dr Nadia Ghazal - Director, Naratech; S Srinivasan - Operations Director, Avecenna; Dr Rabinder Bhuttar Executive Director, ClinTec International and Abdul Kareem Aloloma - Vice President, Center for Healthcare Planning & Quality.
The UAE’s commitment to continuing research into the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is highlighted by the work of the Abu Dhabi Health Research Council as Dr Omar Shafey, Senior Officer, Medical Research, Public Health & Research Department, HAAD, explained.
“The Council develops the Abu Dhabi Health Research Strategy, sets standards of ethical behavior in human subject’s research, and administers funds granted to the Council for the purpose of implementing Abu Dhabi health research policy. The Council ensures that health research in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi meets the highest international scientific and ethical standards.”
Exhibition director, Terri D’Elia, commented on IIR Middle East’s ongoing drive for excellence and education through continuing medical education (CME).
“IIR Middle East Life Sciences division continues to emphasise the importance of CME accredited conferences and PABME is no exception. We are launching for the first time in the region, in conjunction with Clintec International, the Academy of Clinical Excellence. Along with the regular conference programme including Pharmaceutical Registration Seminar, Clinical Excellence Training Workshop, Current Trends in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Facilities Design - Upgrade and Expansion and Clinical Trials Congress, there will also be a Basic Medicine Safety course running alongside the exhibition. We would like to thank the steering and advisory committee members for their continued support.”
