DUBAI— The 13th International Family Medicine Conference opened in Dubai on Tuesday with calls to prioritise prevention, early detection and enduring doctor–patient relationships as the foundation of sustainable health systems.
The three-day event at the Dubai World Trade Centre has drawn more than 900 health professionals from 10 countries to discuss advances in primary care, community health and more integrated models of care delivery.
“Family medicine is more than the starting point of a patient’s journey through the healthcare system; it is the foundation of community health and sustainable healthcare systems,” said Abdulsalam AlMadani, chairman of the conference and of the Global Scientific Family Medicine Alliance.
“The more we invest in prevention, early detection, and an enduring physician-patient relationship built on knowledge and trust, the greater our ability to move from treating illness to protecting health before it deteriorates,” he said.
Ibtesam Al Bastaki, chair of the conference’s scientific committee, said the healthcare sector is undergoing rapid transformation that requires more integrated and flexible models of care.
“Family medicine lies at the heart of these transformations, serving as the first point of contact between patients and the healthcare system,” she said.
More than 45 speakers are leading 18 scientific sessions, while physicians and students are presenting over 70 scientific posters. Participants can earn 21 continuing medical education credits.
The conference’s single-track programme covers wearable devices and artificial intelligence, travel medicine, brain performance, longevity, psoriasis, cardiometabolic diseases, cancer detection, gut health, women’s health, addiction, diabetes, obesity, climate and migration.
Sessions on the opening day include discussions of a blood-based test measuring the TKTL1 enzyme and its potential applications in cancer detection, treatment monitoring and assessing the likelihood of disease recurrence.
Other sessions examine digital electrocardiography, wearable technology and AI-enabled screening for cardiac arrhythmias in primary care. Speakers are also addressing evidence-based approaches to functional medicine and the early identification and management of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
An accompanying exhibition features healthcare and medical technology organisations, including American Hospital Dubai, Seers Tech and Omron. The exhibition also showcases medical research by physicians and students.
The conference is organised by IINDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation, a member of INDEX Holding. It aims to promote the exchange of scientific knowledge and support innovation in primary care and family medicine.
