Abu Dhabi Takes Bold Strides as Center for Health Innovation with World Health Care Congress Middle East, December 5-7, 2010

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, October 19, 2010 - Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, advances as a health
care innovation center this December as it hosts the World Health Care
Congress (WHCC) Middle East, a meeting of global health care stakeholders
that will share best practices for improving the delivery of high quality
cost-effective care.

The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the emirate's regulatory body
for the health care sector, is at the forefront in encouraging global
innovations for health awareness, research and innovation. Since beginning an
extensive health care restructure plan in 2007, it has launched numerous
initiatives aimed at enhancing its health care knowledge base and continuing
its development an a center of health care excellence. The emirate aims to
create a health care system where everyone has full access to health care.
Abu Dhabi has taken significant pro-active steps toward improving its health
care system through HAAD's creation.

    Recent efforts include

    -- Introduction of mandatory health insurance.
    -- Expansion of hospital systems and health care services; Abu Dhabi has
       39 hospitals and 572 health centers and clinics. The Abu Dhabi Health
       Services Co. (SEHA) plans opening two new major hospitals by 2013.
    -- Increasing its global reach through funding the Sheikh Zayed Institute
       for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Medical
       Center in Washington, D.C.
    -- Partnerships with several of the world's health innovation leaders,
       including Johns Hopkins Medicine.
    -- International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Bumrungrad
       International in Thailand.

    WHAT: The World Health Care Congress Middle East

    WHERE: Abu Dhabi, UAE, December 5-7, 2010

    PROGRAM AGENDA: www.worldcongress.com/me

H.E. Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, said: "Healthcare in the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi is going through a period of pronounced private sector investment,
radical changes to the insurance system and a shift in government focus from
operational to regulatory responsibilities."

"Despite successes in reform, private sector participation and a marked
improvement in the overall provision of care, many wards are operating at
full or near-full capacity. Pediatric intensive care units were consistently
more than three-quarters full in 2009. Growth is needed in services related
to diabetes and cancer, while low capacity in gynecology and orthopedics
means greater investment is required in those fields as well," H.E. Al Siksek
added.

Patrick Golden, +1-781-939-2511, patrick.golden at worldcongress.com