Older adults aged 60 and above are the fastest growing demographic cohort in the world. In 2020, there were approximately one billion people worldwide over the age of 60. The substantial increase in the ageing population is the main driver of the longevity industry.

The longevity industry is extremely complex and multi-faceted. Highly advanced IT, data science and predictive technology have created a dynamic and diverse longevity ecosystem. This encompasses geroscience R&D, P4 medicine, AI and finance. Trillions of dollars need to be invested to produce goods and services that will help consumers benefit from a longer, healthier lifespan.

Related: UAE elevates discussions on healthy ageing

In mapping out the entire global longevity landscape through the development of the world’s largest longevity and deep tech database, we were the first to identify and analyse over 50,000 companies, 9,000 companies and 1,000 R+D hubs active in longevity.

Dominic Jennings, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Longevity Financial Advisors

Related: UAE’s new strategy develops market for healthy ageing solutions

Today, the world is facing two opposing megatrends. On the one hand, ageing populations are now a global trend, particularly in developed economies like the UK. Since 1900, the average human life expectancy has more than doubled and is now above 70 years. This trend is creating challenges for pension funds and even nations as the cost of servicing the so-called ‘Silver Tsunami’ will only increase.

Conversely, biomedicine is making huge advances thanks to data analytics leading to a quantum leap in the use of AI for biomedicine R&D. This trend will extend healthy lifespans through a paradigm shift from treatment to prevention. The technological advances have created a multi-trillion-dollar investment opportunity for forward-looking investors and financial institutions.

These two megatrends create opportunities and challenges for the global economy – and the financial industry. Newer asset classes and investment strategies will need to be developed. However, there is a large gap between the highly advanced and innovative scientific developments in the longevity sector and the development of a commoditised financial infrastructure to take advantage of this enormous investment opportunity.

The longevity industry will be commoditised in the same way metals, gold and oil were in the 19th century. The Chicago Board of Trade and the London Metal Exchange offered a marketplace with secondary financial products such as indices, futures and derivatives. Similarly, IT and Tech 1.0 were commoditised from the mid-1980s with the development of the Nasdaq index and related financial instruments.

We will see the same trends develop for longevity as it becomes the largest and most sophisticated industry in human history. The financial industry will need to create innovative products to match the ongoing advances being made in longevity research and development. New financial infrastructure such as a stock exchange, trading platforms, indices, futures and derivatives will create a longevity marketplace for investors and enable public and private companies to fundraise.

The advances being made in deep tech innovation will also result in longevity-related goods and services becoming commoditised and widely available to the average consumer. These will promote longer, healthier life spans through advances in personalised and participatory medicine.

As health and longevity become more measurable, wealth management companies will shift towards managing health like any other asset. There will be many synergies between agetech, wealthtech and longevity. Health will become the new wealth as healthy life extension becomes as desirable a commodity as luxury assets such as real estate. New digital and financial services for customers are being developed to take advantage of this demographic megatrend. 

In anticipation of such demand, we have developed the Longevity Card, a single integrated platform that uses cutting-edge healthtech, agetech and fintech solutions for users who wish to live healthier, longer lives and remain financially stable. This niche fintech app will feature a UK IBAN, multi-currency accounts, payment solutions, fast sign-up, business accounts and 24/7 support.

The healthtech integration will incorporate a fitness tracker and is fully compatible with wearables. It will also provide AI-powered, personalised health and well-being recommendations and users can earn rewards for the longevity marketplace. This will be a one-stop shop of the biggest and best health and well-being brands in the world, giving customers priority offers and exclusive discounts.

Market categories will include fitness, healthcare, beauty, nutrition and insurance but customers will also be able to access private clinics and medical check-up providers. The Card will appeal to all ages but will also incorporate specific healthtech and agetech functions for the elderly who wish to remain high functioning and financially independent.

The Longevity Card is a prime example of an innovative, first-of-its-kind product which will be accessible to millions of consumers with an interest in finance, health and well-being as longevity for consumers become more commoditised. Indeed, it was recently recognised as one of the ‘Top 15 Big Ideas in a Post Pandemic world’ by Sifted, an FT-backed magazine.

Our mission is to remain at the forefront of product and services development for the longevity industry in the years to come.

Poor adherence, absorption problems, and low resistance barriers for some HIV medications are the main factors that contribute to drug resistance in HIV management. The rising prevalence of this resistance is an obstacle to achieving the 90-90-90 target proposed by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in which they attempt to achieve virological suppression in 90 per cent of all persons receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) to fight the HIV epidemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on countries to establish multifaceted plans to prevent further HIV drug resistance. According to the WHO, a comprehensive strategy aimed at controlling and preventing HIV drug resistance should include the following:

Related: POCT in HIV management: From diagnosis to monitoring

- Reduction of HIV transmission rates
- Monitoring and suppressing viral loads in affected patients at the population level
- Providing access to effective treatments supported by robust drug supply chains
- Ensuring that ineffective regimens are promptly changed
- Adhering to established treatment guidelines and recommendations

We speak to Dr. Jehad Abdalla, an American Board-certified Infectious Diseases Specialist who is currently active as a consultant at Al Rahba Hospital in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi and learn more about the current landscape of HIV management and drug resistance. Excerpts from the interview:

Global prevention strategies to reduce transmission rates

There are multiple strategies to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV. This includes diagnosing all individuals with HIV as early as possible after infection, treating people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression, and preventing new HIV transmissions by using proven interventions (such as pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP], using protection, or abstinence).

Related: How has the pandemic affected HIV patients?

All the above interventions are effective at reducing risks. Combining multiple prevention strategies may increase effectiveness, but for any option to work, it must be used accurately and consistently.

One unique approach employed in the UAE is having multiple channels and opportunities for HIV testing, such as during the following processes: visa renewal, prenatal, pre-employment, premarital, pre-elective surgeries, pre-college enrolment, and pre-blood donation.

Antiretroviral therapy and impact on patient care

Currently, there are tens of antiretroviral drugs in use. Using an effective combination of these drugs in therapies turned HIV infection into a chronic disease; with compliant treatment and successful management of the illness, a patient’s HIV viral load may be made undetectable, and their life expectancy may be extended nearly to that of a healthy individual.

The HIV regimens currently implemented are very simple, convenient, and extremely effective.

A single-tablet treatment regimen (also known as fixed-dose combinations), which combines several drugs into one tablet that a patient takes once a day is becoming the regimen of choice. Injectable medication administered every two months are a new and superior option for specific types of patients.

The convenience of newly approved HIV medications allows for increased compliance with treatment, higher rates of sustained HIV viral suppression, more favourable clinical outcomes, and reduced rates of disease transmission.

Dr. Jehad Abdalla

Role of nanotechnology and nanomedicine in HIV management

Nanotechnology is a very promising approach to HIV treatment. It may be beneficial for the delivery of antiretroviral drugs to specific immune cells which are targeted by HIV, as well as delivery of antiretroviral drugs to specific body parts which are used by HIV as a reservoir.

Additionally, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have been utilised to achieve prolonged and sustained release of some HIV medications which will certainly improve antiviral treatment.

Key research and development areas for stakeholders

The area which is likely to require significant stakeholder and resource input in HIV management is the development of a full cure — one that allows HIV-impacted people to live fully healthy and medication-free lives.

In consideration of the progress made with COVID-19 vaccines and the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, this same approach may likely be essential to pave the way for RNA vaccines for HIV in the future.

Future of HIV therapeutics

Neutralising antibodies is a promising approach to treating HIV; these antibodies will bind directly to the virus, preventing it from entering a cell and accelerating its elimination. Alternatively, these antibodies may bind to an HIV-infected cell, recruiting immune-system components which facilitate the elimination of this infected cell.

Long-acting drugs, either through pills or injections administered every few months, are receiving more attention and would likely be favourable for certain groups of patients.

The monumental advancements in HIV management have changed the HIV disease from a devastating untreatable illness to a chronic disease that may be managed and treated to ensure a higher quality of life for the individual. Although HIV is still uncurable, the advancements in its treatment and management along with their benefits cannot be understated.

As the Kingdom’s healthcare industry transition is underway, our leadership in Saudi Arabia is executing plans and protocols to create a world-class system in line with Vision 2030. Alongside this, the healthcare sector has been working towards the new directive implementing guidelines and policies for national, private and new international market entrants to adhere to.

Past operational insight and policy knowledge is critical for moving forward to ensure successful entry.

Related: Addressing healthcare administrative challenges in Saudi Arabia

Understanding the context of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare development will enable new entrants to navigate the industry efficiently and innovate locally. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to diversify revenue sources and transform different sectors, including healthcare. With that, the Kingdom is gradually incentivising international and private operators to improve local knowledge, expertise, and healthcare quality standards.

The concept and business of health insurance in Saudi Arabia started in 2007 and was a milestone that enabled the development of the private healthcare sector within the Kingdom. Today around 18 per cent* of healthcare services are provided by the private sector, while 60 per cent* is still offered by the nation’s foremost provider, the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Related: Healthcare opportunities and challenges in Saudi Arabia

Naturally, MOH-run healthcare services have continued to remain the norm as KSA’s government mandates health coverage for nationals and residents alike. Up until recently, it was the only provider in the country. Additionally, the MOH has built a system that clearly focuses on providing for its population, which has shown to work as time passed.

However, as with any evolving and growing nation, the drive toward privatised, customisable health services has grown from within. This is in part due to:

• Prevention vs. treating systematic approach
• Current generation’s increased buying power combined with high education levels and experience with other leading global healthcare markets

Both of which are in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s forward plans. The nation’s private healthcare sector is growing at an exponential rate. KSA’s health insurance market reached a value of US$6.5 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach US$9.4 billion by 2027.**

The main factors driving growth that new and international entrants should look to address and consider as opportunities for market entrance include:

Increasing and older population — over 32 million people live in KSA, which allows for:

• Preventative care such as vaccinations, wellness, and education programmes are not only becoming the norm but are warranted.
• Customised clinical care to meet personalised needs as the population lives longer.

Pilgrims for Umrah – up to 30 million per year by 2030: Many visitors from other countries will have private insurance; therefore, partner networks are required to offer care as and when needed for this annual population influx.

Partnerships: Clinical care and pharmaceutical firms: Collaborations between local providers (public or private) or local firms and leading international healthcare entities (providers or pharmaceutical companies) to offer superior care and corresponding medical regimens. For example: Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare. The Government’s vision to move toward a value-based healthcare system is supported.
 

In addition to the framework and patient-focused healthcare-specific considerations, other areas new entrants need to evaluate include:

• Alignment with MOH: The government entity is taking proactive steps towards a supervisor and regulatory role instead of a provider. The new holding company will take over healthcare services previously provided and managed by MOH and focus on providing medical services and care via imminent health clusters.
   
• Healthcare Systems and insurance plans focused on continuity of care and lessening financial burden: Consider accessibility, affordability, and quality of services from a public system and offer solutions. Primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare provider referral networks to allow for insurance coverage within the network.
   
• Novel healthcare services
  • Telemedicine: Proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues today as a regulated activity.
  • Home healthcare: Ranging from nursing care, physical, occupational, or speech therapy, nutrition support, transportation services, or even palliative care, is increasing as the healthcare system evolves.

Building a sustainable and competitive value-based healthcare environment is needed. Our visionary leadership understands this need and, as such, has made changes to healthcare policy but has also encouraged and welcomed new and foreign entrants and partners.

The result? Improving the efficiency of the healthcare sector ranging from clinical care to nurturing private-public partnerships and increasing the use of information technology and digitalisation.

Since opening a local head office in Riyadh, ACCUMED Saudi Arabia has been well-received amongst the nation’s healthcare providers in public and private realms looking for an efficient Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) system to align with the new Saudi Billing System (SBS).

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REFERENCES
*ACCUMED’s in-house data.
** Research and Markets Report

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Dr. Mohammed Aldar is the Managing Director, ACCUMED Saudi Arabia.

As per the World Health Organization, approximately 27 million men and women make up the global nursing and midwifery workforce. This accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the global health workforce. Of the 43.5 million healthcare workers in the world today, it is estimated that 20.7 million are nurses and midwives. At a time when the future of careers seems uncertain, especially with artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly replacing jobs, the future of nursing will remain undeterred.

The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a reminder of the important role that healthcare professionals play in maintaining the well-being of a community. However, the World Health Organization has reported a global shortage of health workers, in particular nurses and midwives, with the largest needs-based shortages of nurses and midwives stemming from Southeast Asia and Africa.

Related: Patient Talk Podcast: How leaders in tech and nursing are responding to mental health challenges

The world needs an additional nine million nurses and midwives to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. The UN High Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth has indicated that investments in education and job creation in the health and social sectors result in a triple return of improved health outcomes, global health security, and inclusive economic growth.

A strong nursing workforce is crucial to achieving safe, secure, economically successful, and equitable societies. It is important to consider that nurses and midwives are central to primary healthcare requirements as well as in improving health outcomes globally.

Related: How telenursing, video visits and nursing informatics have benefited patient care in KSA and UAE

One of the exciting facts about choosing healthcare – and in specific, nursing – as a profession is the huge variety of career pathways that open after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Nurses are not locked into one career pathway. At any time, a nurse can choose to switch specialities and functions, from Critical Care – Adults to Critical Care Pediatrics or from Informatics to Clinical Education.

Nursing as a career is receiving significant interest owing to its diverse nature, job security and impact on society.

The UAE has identified healthcare as a priority sector and career path which will drive the next decade of growth and is advancing efforts in delivering health services through innovative hi-tech solutions.

To this end, the UAE has transformed its hiring approach and offers several incentives to foreign nurses including free accommodation or housing allowance; return flight tickets; tax-free income; food allowance; medical insurance and education allowance; transportation; gratuity at the end of the term, and more.

The UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council was established to regulate the nursing and midwifery professions, promote and advance nursing and midwifery services and protect and promote the health and safety of the public based on the highest standards.

These are initial positive signs that point towards significant developments and growth in the field. The council, which comprises members from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Nursing Colleges and Institutes in the UAE, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, SEHA, Dubai Health Authority, Ministry of Interior – Health Services,  Armed Forces Medical  Services Corps, Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Emirates Nursing Association, Emirates Medical Association, and the private healthcare sector, addresses education, research and Emiratisation in nursing and midwifery.

The onus is on enthusiastic young students to reorient their priorities to align with the ever-increasing demands of the world’s labour market in selecting a career that can truly make a difference.

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Dr. Suzanne Robertson-Malt is the Associate Professor – Health, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD).

DON'T MISS

Tune in to Omnia Health’s exclusive webinar to learn more about the latest challenges and opportunities in the Nursing sector. The immersive session features renowned UAE-based healthcare leaders — Mohamad Fakih, RN, MScN Chief Nursing Officer at Fakeeh University Hospital, and Sofia Aleabova, Nurse Manager at GluCare Health — and will take place on August 2, 2022 at 3PM (UAE time).

Register here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3856251/E069583E5CFC3EC31F04086F3C991390

According to the World Health Organisation, Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease that needs lifelong treatment. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 years and older (39 per cent) were overweight. Of these over 650 million adults (13 per cent) were obese. World Obesity Federation, predicts that one billion people globally, including 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men, will be living with obesity by 2030.

“Being overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Being overweight can also lead to diabetes and its associated conditions, including blindness, limb amputations, and the need for dialysis. Rates of diabetes have quadrupled since around the world since 1980. Carrying excess weight can lead to musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis. Obesity is also associated with some cancers, including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon. The risk of these noncommunicable diseases increases even when a person is only slightly overweight and grows more serious as the body mass index (BMI) climbs,” according to WHO.

Related: Surgical Management of Obesity

Obesity and being overweight has a major impact on Quality of life (QOL). Weight loss causes a significant improvement in different domains of QOL such as physical, psychological, social, and sexual. Recently an international consortium (SQOT) validated these patient related outcome measurements (PROMs) for clinical and research purposes.

According to WHO, over 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese in 2017 according to the global burden of disease.

Related: Obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease: Time to expand the toolbox

As many chronic diseases are somehow perceived as having an external cause – and we feel compassion for the people suffering from it - for obesity it’s different. People living with obesity and those around them, including medical professionals, quite often assume it’s their own fault, and being overweight or obese is due to a lack of willpower and poor lifestyle choices.

However, obesity is much more complex. Of course, initial weight gain originates from a disbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, but here ends most of the individual’s influence.

For example, we all know of those who can consume large volumes of food, without gaining weight while others struggle with quick weight gain even though they consume normal or even less amounts of food. We don’t have all the answers, but metabolism plays a big role, and the way we respond to food and energy intake - differs per individual, stage of life and age.

Next there is genetic predisposition accounting for approximately 70 per cent of our phenotype, and what about our obesogenic environment? Walking in a mall or supermarket is extremely difficult without being attracted by fast food, sweets, or unhealthy snacks. Most of our food is processed which does not help either. Our daily exercise is also reduced due to ongoing automation and digitalisation. Unfortunately, our bodies are programmed to fight starvation so that explains why diets are not successful on the long term and patient regain weight after initial and limited weight loss.

Two main approaches are needed to stop this obesity pandemic. First being prevention and second treatment of current cases. All stakeholders – Governments, healthcare professionals and educators, payers like insurance companies and patients are responsible. In the last few years prevention is slowly picking up by governments in the form of sugar taxes and developing and implementing lifestyle interventions at schools and communities. However, in many areas Obesity is still considered as a cosmetic condition and treatment is not covered by insurance companies.

The definition of being overweight is a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 kg/m² and for Obesity a BMI more than 30 kg/m². In general, treatment is based on the BMI criteria and occurrence of co-morbidities. For a BMI between 27 and 35 medical treatment or endoscopic procedures (i.e. gastric balloon or gastric plication) will be advised. For surgical treatment a BMI more than 40 or a BMI between 35 and 40 in combination with one or more co-morbidities is advised.

It is crucial that treatment of Overweight and Obese patients occurs in a multidisciplinary setting of doctors, dieticians and coaches experienced in the treatment of Overweight/Obesity and its related diseases. There are very clear international guidelines for treatment of overweight and Obesity jointly developed and endorsed by surgeons and non-surgeons, like endocrinologists, cardiologists and diabetologists, and these guidelines are adopted by many national governments, payers and professional societies. Only in the right multidisciplinary setting with the right lifestyle support this pandemic can be turned around, saving the lives of many people and for many more significantly improving quality of life.

From Wednesday, July 27th to Friday, July 29th, the Florida International Medical Expo is coming back to Miami Beach with the latest healthcare and health tech products, speakers, and innovators who will gather at the event’s Transformation Zone, a new and exciting element of the renowned expo.

The Transformation Zone will focus on healthcare innovation, hosting an array of conversations and sessions that provide leading experts in the sector with a one-of-a-kind platform to showcase their groundbreaking ideas, techniques, and industry insights. 

“FIME is paving the way for the industry by showcasing the latest scientific discoveries and cutting-edge technological developments,” said Gil Alejo, FIME’s Exhibition Director. “We are excited to bring prominent industry leaders who have been hand-picked to lead innovative discussions emerging throughout the U.S. and Latin America. The Transformation Zone will be a critical exchange of ideas that cements FIME as the premiere event for new generations of medical visionaries to showcase their latest products.”

As the leading worldwide platform and event for medical devices and equipment manufacturers, dealers, and distributors, the Transformation Zone offers a new perspective to the more traditional trade show programming on display at other conferences. 

“The miracle of telehealth is its ability to overcome barriers like time and distance,” said Rodrigo Alvez, Co-Founder of Doctari. “FIME’s Transformation Zone is revolutionising the medical field by providing practitioners and innovators with a platform to showcase the latest products and data driving the health industry into a new era of medicine.”

At this year’s show, the Transformation Zone pavilion will spotlight the launch of FIME’s Healthcare Transformation Talks– a series of unique conversations designed for C-suite health care leaders spearheading industry transformation and innovation throughout the United States and Latin America.

Keynote speakers will include prominent figures like Dr. Adam Landman, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Dr Arash Naeim, Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Research with UCLA; and Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades, Co-Founder of Lapsi Health, a medical technology development company that aims to transform the conventional use of auscultatory sounds in medicine and pharma-biotech development.

“With a global shortage in the radiology field, the latest innovations in telemedicine have been crucial to fill in that gap,” said Dr Falvio Sánchez, Medical Director of TELERAD. “We are honored to present alongside our peers at FIME the latest advances made by TELERAD in telemedicine.”

Attendees will also be able to participate in a Healthcare Sterile Processing Association event on the best regulatory compliance and patient safety practices, with a focus on inspection and documentation. This will be a highly interactive event for sterile processing, infection prevention, and operating room professionals.

“These past couple of years have pushed health care to the front line and, with the demand for adequate health care increasing, it is essential that we cultivate an environment where medical innovations are possible,” noted Alejo.

“FIME is breaking the barriers by providing our exhibitors, industry, and community leaders with possibilities to collaborate together and form partnerships that could secure the future of new medical breakthroughs.” 

In addition to the in-person component of the show, FIME will also have an online experience for guests seeking to increase their networking opportunities and connections. The online component will begin on Monday, July 11th and runs through Monday, August 29th, 2022.

For more information about the Transformation Zone, please visit www.fimeshow.com/en/transformation-zone.html.  

To learn more about FIME, please visit www.FIMEshow.com.

A growing threat to the health of millions of people worldwide, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and become less or unresponsive to antimicrobial drugs.

The growing incidence of AMR is the result of excessive use of antimicrobial drugs, often rendering them ineffective and making it harder to treat infections while increasing patients' risk of severe illness and death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bacterial resistance to antibiotics kills between 1.25 to five million people every year*, with experts within healthcare describing AMR as ‘the quiet pandemic.’

Related: New point-of-care management tool to combat antimicrobial resistance

Today, many patients are being prescribed antimicrobials before proper diagnosis. Due to the risk of infection when admitting a patient, it is not uncommon for medical professionals to face pressure to use more broad-spectrum antibiotics, usually in combination. This eventually leads to the development of more aggressive and resistant organisms, resulting in a vicious circle requiring the prescription of even more antibiotics.

At its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic had increased hospital and ICU admissions to compound the AMR threat further. The increased use of antibiotics has resulted from an increase in the number of mechanically ventilated patients, the use of medical devices needed by patients, including urinary and dialysis catheters, and longer hospital stays.

Related: Current Topics and Challenges in Antimicrobial Resistance

While AMR is a global threat, the risk is magnified in the region (particularly the UAE) as it hosts large events and becomes a tourism and aviation hub, with many millions of annual visitors. The growing incidence of AMR, however, can be effectively reduced if we carefully manage antibiotic use to make them more effective at killing bacteria. Critical to achieving this outcome is the role of healthcare professionals, who should support the correct use of antibiotics.

Dr. Ashraf Elhoufi

Medical providers and institutions can further support efforts to reduce AMR by applying antimicrobial stewardship best practices. A coordinated effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients can help to encourage evidence-based prescribing, which reduces the chances of AMR. And finally, healthcare authorities also have an essential role to play.

In the UAE, for example, training and awareness programs are continuously and consistently conducted and supported by the country’s various health authorities in both the public and the private sectors.

Medical professionals must adhere to the following guidelines to stop antibiotics' incorrect use. Moreover, patients should be similarly aware of the correct use of antibiotics. These should only be used to treat an infection. Accordingly, it is imperative that physicians properly and correctly diagnose an infection before prescribing antibiotics.

To properly diagnose an infection, relevant samples, such as blood, urine, and sputum, should be taken before starting antibiotics. Antibiotics should be stopped immediately if a course of antibiotics is prescribed on the suspicion of infection, but follow-up investigations show no evidence of an infection.

The prescription of antibiotics should be evidence-based and consistent with the recognised local, regional, and international guidelines. Based on culture and sensitivity results, antibiotics should be reviewed and adjusted within 48-72 hours (or even earlier if rapid diagnostics are used)

Through dosing and administration, antibiotic courses should be optimised based on the nature of the infection, severity of illness, the patient’s body weight and body organ functions. Antibiotics courses should be short but sufficient to avoid the continuous harmful pressure on microbial ecology.

In summary, we cannot be immune to the threat of AMR, and run the risk turning back the clock on more than a hundred years of scientific progress. But if we do not pay closer attention to how we are prescribing antibiotics, they will lose their effectiveness, and we would be left unable to treat infections and control public health threats. Healthcare practitioners, patients and health authorities must work together to reduce the threat of AMR and ensure our future health.

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Dr. Ashraf ElHoufi is the Chairman of the Infection Control Committee and the Consultant and Head of ICU at Dubai Hospital, an examiner for the Royal College of Physicians of the UK, and a Professor of Medicine at Dubai Medical College.

Informa Markets, in partnership with Impact Muang Thong Thani, have confirmed that Medlab Asia and Asia Health will take place in Thailand for the first time when the co-located events return live and in-person at the Impact Exhibition Centre, Bangkok, from 19 - 21 October 2022.

The exhibitions, the leading events in the ASEAN region for the healthcare and laboratory industry, will showcase the latest techniques and innovations while also welcoming visitors and suppliers from around the world to meet, discuss and do business in the burgeoning healthcare hub of Thailand.

According to government data, sales of clinical laboratory services in Thailand are expected to increase to US$8.3 billion in 2026, from US$4.5 billion in 2016. The healthcare sector in the country has also seen a surge in the number of international patients it welcomes, with current figures standing at 2 million. However, this figure is expected to increase.

Tom Coleman, Exhibition Director for Informa Markets, said: “We are delighted to be relaunching Medlab Asia and Asia Health as a co-located event in Thailand. Both events have been integral to developing the healthcare and laboratory sectors in the ASEAN region over the last decade.

“This is something we are committed to continuing, to ensure the latest technology and insights are given a platform in the region and that both events continue to play a pivotal role in connecting those within the healthcare and laboratory industries.”

The co-located events are expected to welcome more than 4,200 attendees during the 10^th edition of both events, with more than 300 exhibitors from over 20 countries showcasing the latest innovation in product development and new technologies and insights supporting the healthcare and laboratory industries. Both events are once again expected to be supported by a host of government entities, industry leaders and influencers in their respective sectors.

Forming a vital attribute of both events are the CME, CMTE, CNEU & CPD accredited conferences, each designed to provide peer-to-peer networking while fostering knowledge through insights and expert analysis. Medlab Asia will host six conference tracks, including Laboratory Management, Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics & Therapeutics, Hematology and Covid-19 Updates.

The congress focus for Asia Health will look, in detail, at Hospital Procurement, Sterilisation, Decontamination & Patient Safety, Doing Healthcare Business in Thailand and Total Radiology. This will be supported by workshops featuring latest technologies in the ASEAN healthcare sector.

Loy Joon How, General Manager, Impact Muang Thong Thani, said: “The healthcare industry has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years; however, the industry should be applauded for its efforts in supporting the recovery of businesses globally while also ensuring economic recovery.”

A host of exhibitors have already committed to attending the three-day showcase. They include, amongst others, Randox laboratories Ltd, Singapore-based GenScript Biotech, College of American Pathologists, Trivitron Healthcare, Sysmex Asia Pacific, BGI Genomics Co, and Sansure Biotech.

As part of Informa's commitment to providing the highest hygiene and safety levels, the event will again take place under the protocols introduced via the company’s Informa AllSecure health and safety mandate. The enhanced measures include 35 guidelines covering all aspects of cleaning and hygiene, social distancing measures, screening, and a track and trace in conjunction with local authorities.

For more information, visit https://www.medlabasia.com/asiahealth/en/overview/show-information.html.