The International Medical Travel Conference and Exhibition (IMTEC 2014) will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates next year at the Dubai International Convention Centre 5-6 March 2014. The flagship event took place for the first time in Monte Carlo, the exhibition covered 858sqm and hosted 94 exhibitors, 48 speakers, 816 attendees and had representation from 27 countries, all under one roof. It was the destination for leaders and thinkers in the medical travel arena to learn and discuss the latest developments in the medical travel market.

IMTEC 2014 is organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the organisers of the world’s second largest healthcare exhibition ‘Arab Health’. It will be a two-day conference and exhibition that will bring together consumers and service providers in the global medical tourism industry to the Middle East.

According to Simon Page, Managing Director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions: “The move from Monte Carlo to Dubai is a strategic one; Dubai is a tourism, trade and logistics hub. It also has a thriving healthcare industry, possibly the highest percentage of healthcare investments in the region, and the optimum geographical location right in the centre; which makes it the perfect venue for this event. IMTEC 2014 also provides exhibitors with the opportunity to promote their services to an international audience therefore strengthening the global awareness around their business and reaching an audience of important decision- makers.”

The Middle Eastern health authorities are taking great strides to improve in infrastructure in both primary care and specialist care. Consequently the Middle East is now attracting its own medical tourists to benefit from the quality healthcare provided. In addition to the fact that they continue to send their patients abroad for specialist treatment which creates opportunities for all service providers and brings them right to their target audience here in the Middle East. The health authorities in Dubai are investing heavily in developing the medical tourism sector. They are revamping the emirate’s Rashid hospital as well as opening three new hospitals and 40 health centres as a part of a new initiative to boost medical tourism in the region.

IMTEC 2013 saw the launch of the Commissioners of Medical Travel (CMT) programme. The CMT programme was developed to ensure that exhibitors at IMTEC were ensured substantial networking opportunities with qualified investors in overseas patient care. Informa Life Sciences hosted 40+ CMT’s from all over the world and arranged a series of activities throughout the event to ensure no less than 20 meetings with CMT’s for each exhibitor.

Introducing IMTEC to Dubai and the Middle East will satisfy the medical travel market demands and bring together the different healthcare sectors, officials and entities under one roof to contribute to growing this thriving market.