Healthcare | Wednesday 11 March, 2015 3:08 pm |

Under the Patronage of Supreme Council of Health, Qatar, and supported by Qatar Diabetes Association, International Diabetes Federation (IDF),The Executive Board of Health Ministers’ Council for GCC States, Doha will host Arab Diabetes Medical Congress from 23 to 25 April 2015.

The congress is the region’s premier event connecting together policy makers, diabetes experts, researchers to exchange knowledge, generate new ideas that will foster the advancement in prevention and control of diabetes in the region, and reviewing advanced technologies for treatment of diabetes as well as innovative approaches to managing the complications of it.

Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Thani, Director of Public Health Dept, Supreme Council of Health, Qatar, said: “Support of Supreme Council of Health to Arab Diabetes Medical Congress, comes from the awareness of the council of the seriousness of this disease, and the need to control the prevalence rates in the region through integrated measures, including prevention, treatment and medical research”.

Director of Public Health Dept, Supreme Council of Health, Qatar, added: “According to the latest statistics of International Diabetes Federation (IDF), incidence of diabetes is up to 8.3% globally, up to 9.7% in the Middle East and North Africa, and three countries in the region in the top ten countries in the world, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Therefore we must strengthen our efforts in all Arab countries, in order to alleviate the suffering of patients with diabetes and reduce the burden of this disease in our society”.

The list policy makers and diabetes experts will include: Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Thani, Director of Public Health Dept, Supreme Council of Health, Qatar, Dr. Abdulla Al Hamaq, Executive Director, Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar, Prof. Salman Rawaf,Professor of Public Health, WHO and Director, Imperial College, UK, H.E. Prof. Dr. Tawfik A.M. Khoja,Director General Executive Board, Health Ministers’ Council for Cooperation Council States, KSA, Dr. Nasser M Al-Daghri, Director; Deputy Director, Biomarkers Research Program, Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis; King Saud University, KSA, Dr. Khaled Abdullah Abdul Rahman Tayeb, Vice President, Diabetes Committee, Ministry of Health, former President, National Committee of Diabetes, Director Diabetes Center, Al Noor Hospital, Dr. Abdulbari Bener, Advisor, World Health Organisation, Professor of Public Health, The University of Manchester, UK, and more.

Diabetes is a devastating disease that poses severe risks and costs for the healthcare community. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the number of diabetics globally will reach 592 million by 2035. The financial burden on the healthcare system is substantial, with estimated costs of diabetes related complications accounting for up to 11% of total global healthcare spending.