Dubai holds the first meeting of The British Society of Gastroenterology in the Middle East region.

 Dubai holds the first meeting of The British Society of Gastroenterology in the Middle East region.

Dubai, May 10- 11, 2024: The “International Gastroenterology Conference 2024 Frontiers in Gastroenterology Practice: Updates From The BSG International Section” was held in Dubai for the first time in the UAE and Middle East.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Ahmed Sultan, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at Mediclinic Hospital, Abu Dhabi, and Prof. Laith Al-Rubaiy, Consultant Gastroenterologist in Abu Dhabi and the lead of the British Society of Gastroenterology in the Middle East and North Africa. The gathering aimed to foster collaboration between gastroenterologists in the Gulf and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the British Society of Gastroenterology. More than 350 people attended the conference, including representatives from the British Society of Gastroenterology as well as gastroenterologists, researchers, nurses, and other medical professionals from different healthcare and medical institutions. The United Arab Emirates, notably Dubai, has demonstrated its unique position as a hub for scientific meetings, cutting-edge technologies, research, and medical developments.

The two-day conference offered scientific discussions and training workshops on important topics related to liver, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal problems. Experts led discussions on the most recent updates on a wide range of conditions, including liver transplant, fatty liver, liver cancer, the pancreas and bile ducts diseases, the use of artificial intelligence in gastrointestinal endoscopy, stomach and oesophageal conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, weight management, and nutrition. A dedicated lecture was about learning from the UK’s colon cancer screening programme. The colon cancer screening programme is an important cancer screening programme in the UAE that is available to everyone aged 40 to 45 years old or over. Its goal is to detect colon cancer or early changes that may lead to cancer in the future. The UAE is leading the way in this field.

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) is one of gastroenterology’s oldest organisations. It was established in 1937 and today includes over 4000 members in the UK and around the world. The society’s primary goal is to promote gastroenterology services through training, research, publication of guidelines, and collaboration with other societies. The BSG publishes highly recognised medical journals such as Gut, BMJ Open Gastroenterology, and Frontline Gastroenterology.

This meeting provides the framework for future regional training sessions and conferences.

The BSG delegation, led by Dr Mo Thoufeeq, chair of the BSG International Section, commended the UAE’s high level of excellence in healthcare service as well as access to cutting-edge technologies and treatments in gastroenterology and endoscopy, such as artificial intelligence in endoscopy, the newest biological treatments, and the latest imaging techniques.