Healthcare exhibition to open in Erbil, Iraq allocates six billion dollars to health
Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq - The Kurdistan Regional Government's Minister for Health yesterday spoke at a press conference announcing the forthcoming opening of Iraq Medicare 2011, a major international healthcare exhibition in Erbil and the only trade show of its kind in Iraq.
Iraq Medicare 2011, the 2nd International Total Healthcare Exhibition Serving Iraq, is organised by International fairs and Promotions (IFP) and takes place from 4th to 6th October, under the patronage of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Health.
The press conference to announce the exhibition was attended by Health Minister Taher Hawrami and M. Fadi Darwish, IFP Iraq Manager.
In his speech, Mr Darwish gave an overview of the current conditions of Iraq’s healthcare sector and the ongoing efforts by various concerned parties to improve the quality of medical services, highlighting the role of the exhibition towards that purpose. After thanking the attendees and the exhibition’s supporters and sponsors, he added “The healthcare sector has grown tremendously in the past short period and is still expected to witness sizeable growth in coming years, taking advantage of several factors including government spending, as well as local and foreign investments. However, providing the technical and logistic facilities is still the most important driver for growth in the sector; it goes without saying that the more modern facilities are available, the greater the growth registered.”
Darwish then said “It is from this vantage point that we are organizing ‘Iraq Medicare 2011’ for the second year in a row, building on the huge turnout and official satisfaction during the show’s first edition last year. The show’s aim is to offer government officials and investors the latest equipment and technologies available in global markets to improve the quality of medical services in the Kurdistan Region and all other Iraqi provinces.”
The latest strategic five-year-plan by the Iraqi Ministry of Health had included a number of vital targets that included raising the quality standards of medical services in health institutions, securing medical supplies, developing medical centers across Iraq, improving first-aid and emergency services, and other practical aspects in public healthcare. The budget allocated to that plan is estimated at over US$ 6 billion and is accompanied by considerable growth in the pharmaceuticals sector, expected to be worth US$ 1 billion within the next 2-3 years.
In line with these stated goals and objectives, “Iraq Medicare 2011” will include a very wide selection of healthcare equipment and products, together with various medical services and solutions, to cover the needs of hospitals, specialist clinics, laboratories and other medical facilities. Visitors will include experts and professionals in the medical field, and will have the chance to discover a large number of modern medical services and technologies introduced for the first time in the Iraqi market, as well as several related services such as insurance programs, physiotherapy programs and many others showcased by more than 150 exhibiting companies from around 15 participating countries.
In terms of international presence, Mr Darwish said: “The show has grown by 40% compared to last year’s edition, thanks to the participation of more than 150 companies from 15 countries, thus establishing itself as the single largest event specialized in the healthcare sector across Iraq and benefiting from the support of several trade associations and ministries from the countries represented such as Brazil, Turkey, Iran and others, not to mention the official support by the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Central Government.”
The show will also constitute an ideal occasion to stay up-to-date with the rapid evolution of Iraq’s healthcare sector, where experts and professionals, including doctors, laboratory technicians, directors of hospitals and medical centers, as well as medical equipment distributors, will be able to keep track of future government initiatives in the sector by networking with officials and decision-makers looking for the best solutions and the newest technologies and services. In addition, the show offers important trade opportunities for international companies seeking to penetrate the Iraqi market through local agents, distributors and companies.
In closing, Mr Darwish invited all professionals of the heath sector in Iraq and neighboring countries to visit the show, highlighting its importance and describing it as “a growing pulse in healthcare opportunities”.
