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Under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, the first day of the 2nd annual International Oncology Conference commenced at the St. Regis on Sadayaat Island in Abu Dhabi. Assembled there were over 30 leading cancer experts from around the world, with over 600 delegates from various countries such as, UK, Korea, Sweden , Germany, Spain , Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , Egypt , India and United Arab Emirates . The conference started with a brief panel discussion by the members of the conference’s organizing committee, followed by an inaugural speech from H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Al-Nahayan.
One of the unique features of the conference – as well as the UAE’s ascendant medical community at large – is a multidisciplinary approach to prevention, early detection and treatment. This philosophy was embodied by the opening panel, which included experts in gynecological cancer, lung cancer, Breast cancer, GI cancer and Thyroid cancer, as well as the economic impact of cancer. “In order to be successful against such a pervasive disease,” said Dr. Osman Ortashi, of the College of Medicine in Al Ain, “it is imperative that we not confine ourselves to walled-off specialization. We must share and collaborate – take a holistic approach to beating cancer.”
After the panel concluded, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development, arrived to address the attendees of the conference. The Sheikh spoke comprehensively, expressing his thanks to the delegates and explaining his country’s strategic vision regarding the expansion of medicine in the UAE and the vital responsibility we all have in combating cancer.
“Most, if not all of you here today, are already aware of the degree to which healthcare matters to us in this country,” stated H.E. Sheikh Nahayan, “The United Arab Emirates is a country that is committed to the promotion of excellent health and advanced medical practice.”
Continuing, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan addressed the omnipresence of cancer, citing American oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee’s assertion that, “the question will not be if we will encounter this immortal illness in our lives, but when.” At this, the Sheikh addressed the doctors: “You must be brave to deal with that reality every day, and I salute your courage.”
H.E. Sheikh Nahayan went on to reinforce the central theme of the conference – changing landscape of cancer management by early detection and prevention.. “The World Health Organization has estimated that at least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable,” explained the Sheikh, “It declares that ‘prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer.’ It is my hope that individuals and families and schools and cultures and governments around the world will work together to reduce the number of your patients.”
“The International Oncology Conference is a forum that is less than 2 years old, and is fast becoming one of the premiere scientific events in the entire Middle East region,” explained Vinay Batra, Chair of the Organizing Committee and CEO, Diagnostic Services, VPS Healthcare, “building collective knowledge to establish global practices for early detection and prevention of cancer.”
This conference has been organized in association with VPS Healthcare, an integrated healthcare solution provider with a network of hospitals and chain of clinics.
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