Dubai - UAE, 5 October 2017:  Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, and supported by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, the 9th edition of the UAE Cancer Congress in conjunction with the 1st International BRCA forum kicks off today, 5th October at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City.

The congress was inaugurated by His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA). He was accompanied by a number of local and international representatives, dignitaries and specialists in the pharmaceutical field who also took a tour in the exhibition area where they were introduced to the latest oncology products and technologies displayed by key players in the industry from the region and the world.

UAE Cancer Congress is the most anticipated oncology event in the Middle East region since 1999.  Many public and private cancer treatment institutions are supporting the meeting to raise the level of treatment and practice at clinician’s level for better patient care keeping true to objective of UAE Cancer Congress which is 'Promoting Excellence in Oncology'. 

Al Qutami highlighted the Authority is working at all levels from cancer treatment and management to health education and awareness about early detection to tackle the disease. He said that conferences such as this one bring together experts from across the world and provide a platform to discuss the latest advances in research and treatment of the disease.

During the ceremony, Dr Sheenah Dawood, President of the UAE Cancer Congress said: “Our goal is to promote the oncology community in partnering, learning and building collaborations to allow for progress in research and build initiatives to effectively combat this disease in our region.”

She further added that the congress has always strived to ask important questions and bring key opinion leaders from the health care sector, government and industry to answer and address the issues posed. “We have integrated topics such as the use of biosimilars and cost effective methods of therapeutic management into the program. We have effectively launched the first and only international BRCA forum this year which will be dedicated to looking at the genetic basis of cancer and how to effectively approach and manage patients with genetically driven malignancies. 

This year, the UAE Cancer Congress will present fourteen different oncology subspecialties focusing on Head & Neck Cancer, Breast Cancer, GI Cancer, Live Surgery, Gynae Oncology, Oncology Nursing Session, Radio Oncology and Imaging session among others. The congress will be held with the participation of 200 faculty from across the globe who will be sharing the most recent update and breakthroughs in the management of cancer. The congress has been accredited by the Dubai Health Authority with about 52.25 CME hours collectively for all the sessions. 

The congress welcomes more than 2000 participants from around the world and will feature workshops, plenary sessions, abstract presentations, corporate symposia, and exhibition.