RIYADH, 12 April 2005 — Prince Miteb ibn Abdullah, assistant deputy commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs, inaugurated the first Pan-Arab Congress on Evidence-Based Medicine in the capital yesterday.
The four-day congress organized by the Riyadh-based National and Gulf Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (NGCEBM) was attended by representatives from Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Sudan. Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Manie and Chief Executive Officer of the National Guard Health Affairs Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah participated in the inaugural ceremony.
Outlining the heath care services in the Kingdom, Prince Miteb said: “Our advanced health care facilities have attracted patients from all parts of the globe since some of the leading hospitals offer medical services of international standards.”
He described the National Guard as a military, cultural and scientific institution dedicated to serving its citizens in all parts of the Kingdom.
Regarding the proposed plan of Crown Prince Abdullah to transform the academy of health sciences at King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh into a full-fledged university of health, Prince Miteb said, it will be the first of its kind and is expected to serve as a model in the Arab region.
In his speech, Dr. Rabeeah announced that the second Pan-Arab Congress will be held in Jeddah in 2006 and the third in Dammam the following year.
The head of the scientific committee of the conference, Dr. Haya Al-Fozan, told Arab News that the sponsor of the event NGCEBM was established in March last year to promote the concept of evidence-based medicine in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.
She said the Riyadh congress will discuss how best the participating countries could work together in exchanging their experiences in the field of evidence-based medicine.
“Communications have already started with the referral Cochran Center for Arab region, the Center of Health Evidence (Alberta) and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional office of WHO to enhance future activities,” Dr. Haya said.
A total of seven working papers will be presented for discussion during the first two days of the congress followed by four workshops at the Training Center of Higher Studies at King Abdul Aziz National Guard Medical City on Wednesday and Thursday.
