Sharing Medical Experience

By Rania Khallaf

Dr Kamal El-Tawil, president of NAAMA, welcomes Mrs Mubarak to the conference's inaugural session

Speaking in English, Mrs Mubarak told those attending: "I would like to express my appreciation of the goals of your association, which is providing continuing medical education and training that enables doctors to keep abreast of the latest advances in scientific technology." This, she said, "reflects your sincere intention to cooperate with us for the improvement of our people's health status, which is a key component of Egypt's national development strategy."

In a recent declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO), member states, including Egypt, affirmed their commitment to the principle that achieving the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being. "The fulfillment of this commitment in Egypt has meant giving priority in our national health care strategies to under-privileged families and, particularly, to their most vulnerable members -- women and children," Mrs Mubarak said. Women's health, which is high on the conference's agenda, is one of the first priorities in Egypt's national health improvement plans, whether they are carried out by the government or by non-governmental organisations, she added.

Mrs Mubarak asserted that Egypt is going through the process of reforming its health sector. As part of this process, it aims to strengthen the role of the private sector so as to achieve the most opportune public-private mix. "The contribution of an organisation such as the NAAMA should be seen as an integral component of both national and global efforts to achieve universal health objectives," she said.

Mrs Mubarak suggested that NAAMA could devise an effective mechanism for the exchange of ideas and knowledge and the sharing of experience through regular meetings and seminars. "I would also like to suggest that one of the best means of technology transfer is through the collaboration of scientists from both developed and developing countries, in both basic and applied scientific research," she concluded.

Dr Kamal El-Tawil, president of NAAMA, responded: "This medical convention enables us to exchange medical and scientific information with our colleagues in the Arab world, and provides us with on-site medical information which we could not gain in any other forum. In addition, the meetings encourage lasting professional relationships with our colleagues in other Arab countries."

Over five sessions, the Arab-American physicians and outstanding Egyptian doctors discussed their experiences and speak about the latest technology in their specialised fields. The focus will be on women's health, cardio-vascular diseases and multi-modal therapies of cancer of the breast, lung and prostate.