Advances in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Conference Highlights Need to Bridge Gap between Conventional and CAM Providers

Sunday, Oct 23, 2011

Raising awareness among conventional doctors regarding evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practices, encouraging referral systems and team work, as well as bridging the gap between conventional and CAM practitioners to offer improved patient care were some of the areas highlighted at an integrated medicine conference organized by Dubai Healthcare City’s Centre for Healthcare Planning and Quality (CPQ).

Raising awareness among conventional doctors regarding evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practices, encouraging referral systems and team work, as well as bridging the gap between conventional and CAM practitioners to offer improved patient care were some of the areas highlighted at an integrated medicine conference organized by Dubai Healthcare City’s Centre for Healthcare Planning and Quality (CPQ).

Titled 'Advances in Complementary and Alternative Medicine', the conference was held at The Atlantis – Palm in Dubai and drew the participation of over 188 healthcare professionals. Dr David Riley, Clinical Professor, University of NM Medical School, led a panel discussion that addressed the global convergence of conventional and traditional healthcare systems.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, Executive Director, CPQ, Dubai Healthcare City; Dr Maria Alonso Medical Director, Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre; Dr Charles Jones, Clinic Director, California Chiropractic and Sports Medicine Center; Dr Vangelis Zafeiriou, Psychiatrist, President and Founder of the Hellenic Association of Homeopathic Medical Cooperation; Dr Palitha Serasinghe, Director and Clinic Manager, Royal Ayurveda; Dr Shurong Jiang Mandaraki, Managing Director, Emirates Integrated Medical Center, and Dr Tabassum Inamdar, Clinic Manager, Dr Batra’s Homeopathy Clinic, were the other experts that offered insights with supporting case studies at the conference.

Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director Dubai Healthcare City, said: “Our mandate is to play a consistent, strategic and active role as a catalyst in the healthcare sector. In this direction we aim to continuously organise complementary and alternative medicine conferences that will drive awareness and facilitate positive outcomes. Bringing together experts from different regions and medical practices to discuss relevant topics will help bridge the gap between conventional and CAM providers.”

The outcomes that the discussions generated included the imperative need for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policy makers to compare findings and explore the implications of information in one area of knowledge to another while treating illnesses. Additionally, the integrated approach of managing diseases called for leveraging the goodness of Ayurveda in a way that complements allopathic practices for the benefit of modern society.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama said: “The conference aimed at bringing experts in the complementary and alternative medicine domain to come up with solutions and suggestions for integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare practices, particularly in the UAE and the region.”

The conference participants were awarded with a certificate and six continuing medical education (CME) credits, which are approved by the Center for Healthcare Planning.