Dar Al Ber Society announced the conclusion of a pioneering partnership with GE Healthcare at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre to launch a mobile cardiac catheterization center, the first of its kind in the Middle East. It aims to provide the necessary vital services at the right time to help heart patients in need.

Dr. Mohammed Suhail Al Muhairi, CEO and Managing Director of Dar Al Ber Society, said that the modern mobile cardiac catheterization centre will provide heart patients with high-quality care through a set of free diagnostic tests and procedures, as well as perform cardiac operations for patients in areas far from the required specialized cardiac health services.

It should be noted that 17% of the total emergency cases in hospitals in the UAE result from complaints of chest pain. In addition, 8-10% of the total number of patients receiving emergency care also require cardiac catheterization.

The fully equipped laboratory will play an essential role in reducing the large health burden of cardiovascular diseases and non-communicable diseases in line with the strategic national development priorities of the UAE, especially in light of the study indicating that more than half of the population of the United Arab Emirates were negatively affected during their lives as a result of them or one of their relatives or friends suffering one of the types or forms of heart disease.

He stressed that Dar Al Ber Society cooperated with GE Healthcare, which is the leading global company in the field of medical technology and innovation of digital solutions, in this initiative, and various health institutions in the United Arab Emirates, in addition to the Emirates Heart Center, which is an institution in social entrepreneurship that seeks to improve cardiovascular health through education, research and provision of quality healthcare to patients.

This partnership reflects the strength of cooperation between various sectors and the importance of social responsibility activities in meeting critical healthcare needs in the UAE.
In light of the worsening global health crisis, studies indicate that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the Middle East and North Africa region, and are responsible for more than a third of all deaths, at a rate of 1.4 million people every year.

At the level of the United Arab Emirates, cardiovascular diseases represent the cause of 34% of the total number of deaths, as studies have shown that the symptoms of these diseases often appear in patients in the Emirates a decade before they appear in patients in other developed countries, which confirms the urgent need to strengthen preventive measures and save lives in areas with limited access to heart-related therapeutic services.

On this occasion, Mr. Yousef Al-Yateem, Assistant CEO of the Zakat and Community Development Sector, said that the time factor is extremely important when it comes to treating several types of heart diseases. Hence the importance of the mobile catheterization laboratory unit, as it plays an essential role in areas where patients lack specialized care and hospitals. This mobile centre provides timely diagnostic services and life-saving specialized treatments to residents close to their homes.

The launch of the first mobile cardiac catheterization laboratory in the region, in partnership with some of the leading humanitarian organizations in the United Arab Emirates, reflects our shared vision with these organizations, which aims to help patients overcome cardiovascular diseases through advanced diagnostic solutions and high-quality treatments.

We also look forward to contributing to enhancing the healthcare landscape and reducing mortality rates associated with cardiovascular diseases on a large scale in the Middle East region.

Emirati cardiac surgeon Dr. Adel Al-Shammari Al-Ajmi, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, Chief Physician of the Emirates and Head of the Emirates Heart Centre, said: “In an effort to reduce the burden on patients, represented by long waiting times, financial costs, and hospital stays, the mobile cardiac catheterization centre will perform emergency and optional procedures around the clock, taking advantage of its modern equipment and advanced imaging solutions provided by GE Healthcare, as well as the expertise of an experienced team of cardiologists, interventional surgeons, catheterization nurses, and other supporting specialists.

The mobile heart catheterization centre falls within the framework of the initiatives of the Dar Al Ber Society and GE Healthcare related to corporate social responsibility, and with voluntary support from the Emirates Doctors, the specialized medical team in the UAE, the mobile centre for cardiac catheterization will provide distinguished diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services, and will be the best evidence of the tireless efforts made by the Dar Al Ber Society and its partners to enhance access to healthcare and emphasize the importance of equality in this regard to create a better world with the highest levels of healthcare.