Healthcare industry salutes excellence
Pioneers of excellence in healthcare were saluted by their peers for their considerable achievements and contributions towards innovation and development, at the annual Arab Health Achievement and Innovation Awards 2011.
In all, twelve awards categories were celebrated as more than 800 international and regional leading healthcare professionals gathered at a gala dinner on 25 January 2011 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai.
A panel of expert judges created a shortlist from the 200 nominations received, consisting of Fadi El-Jardali, Accreditation Canada International; Dr. Joel J. Nobel, Founder and President Emeritus ECRI; Ashraf Ismail, Managing Director M.E., Joint Commission International; Malek El Husseini, Business Development Director, GE Healthcare M.E. and Brian Johnston, Chief Executive of The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.
The highlight of the evening was the award for the Outstanding Contribution of an Individual to the Middle East Healthcare Industry. This was awarded to Professor Hossam Hamdy, Vice-Chancellor of Medical & Health Sciences Colleges at the University of Sharjah, who also serves as a Senior Consultant in Paediatric Surgery at Qassimi Hospital. Professor Hamdy is considered an international authority in all areas of medical education.
The judging panel said “Professor Hamdy has created a successful partnership model which the healthcare industry in the Middle East is based on. His educational and scientific principals that target the continuous development of healthcare professionals and research in the region is unparalleled”.
In addition a new award was introduced this year, the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation Services. The award is designed to acknowledge the vital role physiotherapy plays and recognises those who provide support for the increasing numbers of disabled people throughout the region.
The inaugural award was shared by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar and National Commercial Bank (NCB) in Saudi Arabia. HMC was recognized for its community-based rehabilitation centre at the Rumailah Hospital which houses more than 300 beds for geriatrics and patients requiring physical rehabilitation. NCB was praised for its invaluable support of community-based Al Ahli health programmes.
“Clearly the pioneering spirit is alive and well throughout the region. The fact that we had so many nominations that combined innovation with excellence augurs well for the future of healthcare in the Middle East,” said Simon Page, Divisional Director of the Life Sciences Division of organisers IIR Middle East.
The awards are traditionally celebrated during the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, which is the flagship event of IIR Middle East's Life Science Division and the Arab world’s premier event for the healthcare sector which finishes on Thursday 27 January.