The GCC healthcare market is rapidly expanding, with connected hospitals and healthcare providers re-imagining the industry with wearables, machine monitoring, and patient record digitisation. Both start-ups and established technology firms are transforming healthcare technology, showcasing the latest developments at GITEX Technology Week which runs from 16-20 October 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The GCC is investing at least USD 2 billion in new patient-management technologies, and constructing of 37 mega-hospitals worth USD 28 billion, according to financial analysts Ardent Advisory. Overall, the GCC healthcare market is set to grow by 78 per cent from USD 40 billion in 2015 to USD 71 billion in 2020, according to Alpen Capital.
At GITEX’s Healthcare Monday industry vertical programme and conference, healthcare innovators such as Dr Rafael Grossmann, the first surgeon to live-stream surgery on Google Glass, and Australia’s first Chief Medical Information Officer Dr Monica Trujillo will support the GCC and wider market and share global best practices.
Speakers will detail how cutting-edge healthcare technology can enhance the patient experience, deliver personalised care, and contribute better value for money.
“In combating lifestyle diseases, the way that medical professionals use technology to manage and collect information can be as important as advances in medical science,” said Dr Monica Trujillo, Chief Medical Information Officer at Australia’s UnitingCare Health.
Dr Trujillo was responsible for the clinician engagement strategy at St Stephen’s Hospital in Queensland, Australia’s first fully integrated digital hospital.
The system includes patient wristbands with vital information for nursing staff, and doctors view digital patient records from anywhere at any time – including their homes, and all equipment is monitored electronically. The technology saves time on administration, reduces the scope for human error, and means staff can focus on patient care.
Additional GITEX Healthcare Monday speakers are set to include Jessica Federer, Chief Digital Officer of global pharmaceutical company Bayer; Alan Boehme, Chief Technology Officer of The Coca-Cola Company; and Dr Timothy Low, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore’s innovative Farrer Park Hospital.
Tech Leaders Invest in Global Healthcare Solutions
Established technology enterprises are also turning their technology to healthcare. Exhibitors at GITEX – such as HP, Microsoft, and SAP – are lining up resources to enhance patient care and healthcare provider operations.
SAP, a top exhibitor at this year’s GITEX, is partnering with Stanford University to determine genetic traits for disease, as well as and German and Nigerian organisations to use mobile apps to track, prevent, and treat Ebola outbreaks in real-time. Microsoft’s CityNext partner-lead initiative looks to use new and existing Microsoft technologies to improve patient care.
“Bringing together the world’s leading healthcare companies, innovators, and experts at GITEX Technology Week will place the Middle East at the centre of the global connected revolution. Attendees can learn about and experience the latest in healthcare innovations, from mobile apps and wearables, to connected hospitals,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President, Exhibitions and Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre.