DUBAI, (Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2019) Held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and President of UAE Genetic Diseases Association, the first Global Health Pioneer Awards recognised those at the forefront of the healthcare industry during a ceremony held yesterday evening at the Etihad Museum in Dubai.
The event honoured some of healthcare’s most esteemed and noteworthy figures with the attendance of leading innovators in the industry.
The event, held in partnership with Italy’s leading private hospital group, Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato (GSD), UAE Genetics Disease Association and Arab Health, was founded by Kamel Ghribi, Chairman of GK Investment Holding Group and Chairman of GSD Healthcare, and Paolo Rotelli, President of Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato.
"The Global Health Pioneer Award has been established to celebrate the dedication, innovation and commitment of healthcare leaders of the country, recongnising the vital link between the UAE and Italy while also playing an essential role in supporting the UAE national agenda for healthcare," said Ghribi.
The 2019 edition of the awards were dedicated to the field of genetics, recognising the outstanding efforts of individuals and orgnaisations working towards innovation and advancements in the field.
Those recognised on the evening included Dr. Tawfik A M Khoja from Saudi Arabia under the category 'Pioneer with Most Outstanding Contribution towards Care and Preventive Health Service Towards Children and Families living with Genetic Disorders.' UAE’s Ismahane El Ouafi was recognised as a leader in the category Pioneer Woman Scientist/Physician. Other UAE winners on the evening included Dr. Sumaya Al-Bloushi, Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, the Wekaya Programme, Tobacco Control Programme and Haykal Media.
Internationally, George Stephen Hayes from the US, Tiziana Fiorini and Alessandro Frigiola, Giulio Gallera, Luigi Naldini and Professor Silvia Cirri from Italy and Professor George Nara from Japan also won awards on the evening.
"The award is designed to recognise pioneers worldwide, strengthening the value of Dubai as a worldwide platform and to generate exchanges from a global uptake of the innovations and humanitarian approaches that fuel the search for improving quality and equality in healthcare," added Ghribi.
GSD is Italy’s leading private hospital group and among the largest in Europe. The Group’s model is centred around the patient and combines clinical, academic and research excellence to provide the very best tailor-made and innovative care to everyone. The company opened its first office in Dubai Healthcare City in 2017.
Explaining why Dubai was selected as its first overseas office, Ghribi said, "Dubai can be reached in three hours by plane by almost one-third of the world’s population, and in seven hours by two-thirds. It is easier to bring the world to Dubai than it is to Milan and this is key for developing markets such as China and Africa."
