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Smartphone Apps Mean Big Business for Healthcare in the UAE
Published Jan 12, 2012
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In recognition of the growing importance of mobile health in the Middle East, international experts in healthcare and Information Technology are set to gather in Dubai for the leading m+Health Conference on 24th January 2012, as part of the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress from 23rd – 26th January 2012. Supported by du as the event’s Exclusive Knowledge Partner, the conference will deliver an innovative and practical stream of mobile health delivery and will include approaches to sustainable and clinical business models, as well as government and regulatory visions for the future in this region.
MENA mobile apps developer Flagship Projects has conducted research which clearly shows that the UAE has captured 60% of the Middle East’s smartphone mobile apps business despite is comparatively low population, and this is set to increase with the region currently accounting for one out of every 12 smartphones sold globally, according to IHS Screen Digest Research.
“Across the region there is already a huge burden on healthcare systems due to rising costs, scarce resources and lack of capacity. Mobile health technology will enable medical professionals to manage many patients remotely, monitoring conditions in real time and sharing vital statistical information between the healthcare provider and the patient. As a progressive telecom service provider, we are perhaps best positioned to offer our expertise to maximise emerging technologies that can improve physician productivity and patient care including 3G mobile hotspots, wireless medical/monitoring devices, tablet computers, and smartphones,” commented Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du.
According to Simon Page, Managing Director – Life Sciences, Informa Exhibitions: “The next step is two-way wireless videoconferencing devices which can be placed at the patient bedside for regular physician/patient interaction, complete with high-definition video transfer for accurate visual diagnosis. Wireless patient blood pressure, glucose level, weight, and/or bone density monitors could also be integrated into the healthcare solution. These devices provide treating physicians with regular insight into the patient's condition by regularly relaying this data wirelessly to the doctor's computer or mobile device.”
According to research by SBI and OBizMedia, 40% of physicians use a digital device at the point of care, with more than 2 in 5 physicians going online during patient consultations, mostly on a handheld device. At the same time, patients are increasingly more informed, searching out answers to complaints themselves, this is reflected in the projected increase of smartphone health apps. According to PEW Research, 10% of all smartphone users have a health app on their device and by 2015 this will increase to 33% running a mHealth app.
Mobile healthcare provides opportunities not only for physicians, but also pharmaceutical companies who are already taking advantage of the growing trend with more than 41% of new healthcare initiatives from pharmaceutical companies being mobile apps.
Mobile Health is a term for medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, PDAs, and other wireless devices, and forms part of an increasing movement towards citizen-centred healthcare delivery.
For more information on the event, please visit www.mplushealth.com or call +971 4 407 2743.
The Arab Health Exhibition and Congress is organised by Informa Exhibitions and provides a platform for the world’s leading manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to meet the medical and scientific community in the Middle East and beyond. Overall the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress will feature more than 3,000 exhibiting companies from 70 countries and is expected to attract around 70,000 participants. For more information, please visit www.arabhealthonline.com.
About Informa Exhibitions:
For more information about Informa Exhibitions, please visit www.informaexhibitions.com.
For media enquiries please contact:
Haneen Aweidah
Account Executive
Hill & Knowlton
T: +971 4 3344930
Haneen.aweidah@hillandknowlton.com
Posted by
VMD - [Virtual Marketing Department]
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