Abu Dhabi to host major global healthcare congress starting 2019

Abu Dhabi - DCT Abu Dhabi-Medical Tourism Association agreement in line with emirate's medical tourism vision

Abu Dhabi will be hosting a major annual healthcare event starting from next year, as part of strategies to promote the UAE capital into a world-class healthcare hub, authorities said.
The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) to join efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a world-leading medical tourism destination by hosting the MTA's annual World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress in Abu Dhabi as a major part of the agreement.
The globally-recognised event - that brings together experts and organisations from more than 100 countries worldwide and regularly attracts more than 10,000 visitors, approximately 200 exhibitors and sponsors and up to 100 hosted VIP buyers - will be held in Abu Dhabi in September 2019.
The MTA will also open its office in Abu Dhabi as well as the production of a new Abu Dhabi Destination Guide as it works to attract the best international healthcare firms into the capital so as to promote Abu Dhabi as a hub for medical tourism.
The MoU opens a pathway for DCT Abu Dhabi and the MTA to strategically cooperate to further build a medical tourism proposition for consumer markets in several key areas, including Russia, China, India and across the GCC.
In a Press conference, Jonathan Edelheit, chairman and CEO of the MTA said: "Through launching this new portal, we want to support the strategy of DCT Abu Dhabi in transforming Abu Dhabi into a world-class healthcare hub."
"The partnership between the MTA and DCT Abu Dhabi will boost the medical travel industry. It is our goal to establish Abu Dhabi as the most-trusted medical tourism destination, initiating joint trade missions into the GCC, China and the world." He noted that the MoU establishes a 10-year partnership demonstrating Abu Dhabi's long term commitment to emerging as one of the most advanced and sustainable medical tourism destinations in the world.
Saif Saeed Ghobash, Under-secretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "The new initiative to promote healthcare facilities in the capital so that they match with international standards will include all public and private hospitals."
"We want people to get a great healthcare experience when they come to Abu Dhabi."
He added that the new initiative will include the exchange and transfer of medical professional from all parts of the world. "Abu Dhabi is already known for the treatment of complicated illnesses such us heart diseases and brain surgeries and we would like to expand this even more so that we become a destination for all those seeking for first-class treatment."
He noted that the agreement with MTA is in line with their mandate to promote Abu Dhabi on the world stage and to support Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030, which is designed to guide the emirate's growth and development.
"Strategically moving our global event, the World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress to Abu Dhabi will align our mutual goals and provide accessibility for buyers of medical travel, insurers, hospitals and investors to a more central location," said Edelheit.
"We expect the event to exponentially grow in Abu Dhabi and we will launch the largest hosted buyers program in the industry, rending Abu Dhabi as the epicenter of medical travel business development." 
The MoU will see DCT Abu Dhabi and the MTA coordinate their efforts in a variety of ways, including compiling an assessment of Abu Dhabi's current medical tourism strategy as it looks to develop targeted markets, coordinating digital marketing initiatives, launching dedicated promotional roadshows across China, Russia and the GCC, as well as organising 'Familiarisation tours 'to Abu Dhabi's state-of-the-art medical facilities for specific hosted buyers.
These tours will also showcase the individual medical providers in Abu Dhabi, the quality of care provided, the strong regulations to safeguard the interest of the people who visit for treatments, the extensive range of treatments that are currently available, as well as the other tourism benefits that Abu Dhabi provides for patients and their companions during their visit.
- ismail@khaleejtimes.com