Dear customer

The infrastructure and economic development in the UAE, Dubai in particular, leaves one speechless. Of course the worldwide difficulties have also impacted this part of the middle east, and it is certainly noticeable in the volume of traffic, and the activity in shopping malls, that times are tougher. Notwithstanding, Dubai is an impressive place – the world’s highest building, the Burj Dubai at 880 stories, has just reached its final height when its spire was put in place. The Dubai Mall, a shoppers’ heaven, is reportedly the biggest in the world and it is big for sure. When one considers that only 6% of Dubai’s GDP is oil-based, their achievements are truly remarkable.

Bytes Healthcare Solutions were recently invited to participate in Arab Health, the region’s largest healthcare symposium and expo. This year some 50,000 people visited the show, and over 2,300 exhibitors were present to show their products and services. Impressive, large, overwhelming, awesome, staggering . . . I still struggle to find the words. We exhibited in partnership with IMTAC, a local IT company with a very impressive healthcare industry record – in 2008 they won the Arab Health award for the best healthcare IT project, on the basis of developments they completed for Dubai Healthcare City – which is in itself another hugely impressive story.

The IMTAC stand at ArabHealth.

The impressive part about the developments in the UAE healthcare industry is the energy and passion with which healthcare insurance has been introduced – mandatory insurance for all expats, compulsory e-claims in AbuDhabi and soon in Dubai, huge government support and impetus for standardisation and coding, and so it goes. There is a lot still to do when compared to the situation in South Africa, but there is no doubt about their intention. Not only will Dubai become an international healthcare destination, but the healthcare industry itself will become a showcase for best-in-class infrastructure and technology. It is an example of what can be achieved when a government acts with determination and vision. We will watch Dubai and the UAE with interest and anticipation – perhaps the day when every bit of healthcare information has been digitised and made accessible on-line to improve the quality of care, is not a pipe dream after all . . .

Kind regards

Hennie du Plessis
CEO