(1888PressRelease)
April 29, 2009 - The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2nd Annual MENA Congress ended on Sunday with firm steps to foster cooperation and draw up definitive guidelines for the management and prevention of cancer in the region.
Dr. Ali Abdulkareem Al Obaidli, Clinical Affairs Director, SEHA, said that experts from US based NCCN and oncologists from the entire region, have succeeded in creating a firm infrastructure for advancing customized cancer care across the MENA region. “I can say that we have achieved a lot towards formulating a substantial body of standards that will govern the way we address cancer regionally. These guidelines are vital because they deal with very specific environmental and genetic characteristics that are unique to this part of the world,” said Obaidli.
In 2008, NCCN held the first annual symposium in Al Ain, UAE, and this event subsequently became the springboard for the conference that just ended in Abu Dhabi. “Over the past two years there has been a lot of exchange of ideas and information between doctors in the region and the NCCN, and the results of this second conference on cancer guidelines show that we have made major strides towards customization of treatment.”
The four day congress, which was sponsored by Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HA-AD) and SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, was held in collaboration with US based NCCN and PRIME Oncology.
Dr. Obaidli explained that member doctors have agreed upon the importance of creation of cancer registries in each country across the MENA region. “These registries are powerful because they not only capture cancer cases given but provide insight on what treatments worked and which ones did not.” He noted that UAE cancer registry is maintained at Tawam Hospital. Dr. William T. McGivney, CEO of NCCN added: “There is an immense need for different countries to share data and follow up on progress. The great expertise from the Middle East and North Africa has allowed NCCN to also take home good recommendations that may be put toward improving our own guidelines.”
Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD, Program Director, University of Tennessee Cancer Institute said that the conference was a great success, adding that the international input gained from the Abu Dhabi congress will serve to help improve guidelines in other regions as well.
On an Abu Dhabi level, the congress serves the primary health entities in different ways. For HA-AD the event is viewed as a public health initiative with an opportunity to broaden outreach to clinicians across the region, while SEHA values the improved outcomes that would inevitably raise quality healthcare delivery across the emirate.
The 2009 Congress, which was attended by an estimated 350 participants, consisted of lectures by international experts providing clinical perspectives, and discussions among attending doctors, on the most recent developments of the seven key types of cancers.
About SEHA
SEHA is health in Arabic. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company – whose corporate identity is SEHA – is an independent, public joint stock company created to manage and develop the curative activities of the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. SEHA is committed to providing quality, cost effective healthcare on par with international standards measured through accessibility, affordability, choice and satisfaction. SEHA owns and operates 12 hospital facilities, 2,644 licensed beds, and more than 40 Ambulatory and Primary Healthcare Clinics. SEHA is one of the largest employers in the Middle East with more than 15,500 doctors, nurses and other clinical staff and administration employed. For further information, visit us at www.seha.ae or contact James S Ferrier, Corporate Marketing Manager at jferrier ( @ ) seha dot ae or Salama Al Mazrouei, Corporate Marketing Specialist at smazrouei ( @ ) seha dot ae dot
About NCCN
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives.
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