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by Laura Webster, special to DOTmed News

With eight exhibit halls booming with exhibitors and booths pouring into all of the open spots left in the hallways, the Dubai International Exhibition Center was buzzing recently with everything from the latest C-Arms to the finest scrubs. Throughout the exhibition center's 60,000sqm of space attendees were introduced to a variety of new product advancements in the field-- such as HD televisions detailing the latest developments in computed tomography and mammography. It was easy during the course of the day to hear more than ten languages being spoken and there was even a visit from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler.

Despite the global economic crisis, thousands of medical professionals traveled the last week of January to Dubai to attend the annual Arab Health Conference. The conference brought together health care manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers and distributors from all over the world. (DOTmed was in attendance, see http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/8076.)

The overwhelming opinion of the exhibitors was that although all parts of the globe are feeling some level of financial instability, there will always be a need for health care.

Aftermarket Boom

Seven years ago, David Lapenat, owner of ANDA, a worldwide distributor of pre-owned medical and imaging equipment, was one of only a few refurbished equipment companies represented at Arab Health. Today, there is an overflow of companies exhibiting refurbished products. "Cost cutting everywhere is leading people to consider if they want to spend the big bucks," said Lapenat. He also observed that the Gulf area is not experiencing as much of the economic crisis as other places such as India, Pakistan and Northern Africa where hospitals and private practices are in the market for refurbished equipment.

For used medical equipment distributor Agito Medical, it was their first year attending Arab Health and it gave them an opportunity to take a look into a market that they were not yet present in. Purchase Manager Anders Nielsen believes that the switch for buyers from new to used equipment can't be measured for a few more months. "In Europe we are not yet seeing the full effect of the financial credit crisis and until then it's unsure [how consumers will react]," said Nielsen.

Jeff Weiss, president of Atlantis Worldwide, Ltd, a full-service provider of pre-owned and refurbished diagnostic imaging systems, was surprised by this year's turnout since he saw the impact of the economic crisis as early as March of last year in the States and more recently on an international level since this past fall. Weiss has noticed that despite customers who choose a less expensive refurbished product over a new one, there is still trouble when it comes to finding the financing. "We react creatively to help clients with financing," said Weiss.

Covidien, a $10 billion global health care products leader, has been attending Arab Health for the past six years and marketing manager George Sarkis noticed a difference in the traffic that moved through the exhibit halls this year. "Business wise it has been successful," said Sarkis, "but clinically, not so successful." Both Sarkis and marketing manager, Suresh Kumir, are seeing the beginning stages of the financial crisis and are worried for the future. "At the end of the tunnel you can see the light, but it's a train coming," laughed Kumir.

It was Joseph Shrawder's second year exhibiting with GE. Shrawder, the general manager of DI performance technologies noticed a little less traffic compared to last year. "Although it was slower, the quality of customer contacts was a lot higher," said Shrawder. "Those that were here seemed equal to or more serious about buying." Arab Health gave GE the chance to showcase their new products regionally and globally. It gave the Middle East, a region that is looking to meet the world standards of health care, a chance to see the advanced technology that GE has to offer.

Hospital Attendees

As in past years, many hospitals based in the United States had a strong presence at this year's Arab Health.

Managing Director of Johns Hopkins International, Hamed Ibrahim, was pleased with the turn out of this year's Arab Health considering the economic downturn. Johns Hopkins' main reason for attending was to show their gratitude to the people of the United Arab Emirates. "We are here to thank [the UAE] for your business, for trusting us with your patients," said Ibrahim, "that we not only care about you but we came to show that we are here for you."

Similarly, Brenda Radford, director of guest services and international patient services for Duke University Medical Center, felt that Arab Health was a chance to develop the already existing relationships between the hospital and its patients from the region. Radford said Duke's presence is, "demonstrating the interest and commitment we've had over the years to the region."

Arab Health also featured its annual conference program, the Arab Health Congress, said to be the world's largest and most comprehensive conference program. It provides a forum for attendees to discuss the latest practices and technologies emerging in the medical arena.

Next year's Arab Health is already being planned despite a recent downturn in Dubai's previously booming economy. Dubai officials are confident in solving their debt problem that arose through their outlandish construction over the past six years. The overwhelming tension of how next year will be affected by the economic crisis is a growing concern but the current state of the world didn't keep many people away from this year's conference.