The Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Mane will patronize the GCC Health Economics Conference, which is organized by MOH in cooperation with the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Health Ministers, the Arabian Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), the World Bank, the International Union of Diabetes, King Faisal Specialized Hospital, and the World Health Organization (WHO), during the period from 3 to 5 Nov 2007, at King Faisal Conference Hall, under the slogan (Diabetes Economics, a Vital Investment).
The MOH Secretary for Executive Affairs Dr. Mansour Al-Hawasi said the conference will discuss diabetes, which is imposing a threaten to the health situations at both national and GCC levels.
"The changes in life patterns occurring due to the high living standards in the GCC countries are imposing great challenges", he said. "They have led to prevalence of some chronic diseases such as diabetes, which occurs due to a number of risk factor including obesity, reduced daily activities, and hereditary factors".
He said the conference will shed light on the policies for controlling diabetes, its burden, and the challenges it imposes on health systems and governments. The new initiatives for promoting health and providing cost effective health care will be also discussed.
According to Al-Hawasi, the Ministry of Health has formulated special protective, therapeutic, and rehabilitating programs for preventing diabetics. Moreover, a comprehensive plan including a national campaign for enlightening against the threatens and complications imposed by diabetes is on schedule.
He said the high prevalence of diabetes among GCC citizens confirm the importance of this conference.
He expressed his hope that the conference, which will be attended by more than twenty experts and specialists representing some prominent national, regional, and international organizations, will come out with the recommendations required for controlling the disease and its risk factors.