Under the patronage of His Excellency Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State
for Defence Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) is proud to announce the hosting of the
inaugural Emirates Military Health Conference (EMHC), that took place at Erth Abu Dhabi, Abu
Dhabi, UAE on January 18 and 19, 2023.
His Excellency Matter Salem Al Dhaheri, UAE Under Secretary of Defence, opened the conference
in the company of His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Meshal Al Sabah, Undersecretary of the
Ministry of Defence Kuwait, and His Excellency Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al Hamed, the Chairman
of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi. Present in the audience were official delegates from
allied countries, as well as UAE MoD officers, and specialists from the military and civil medical
fields.
This premier event for members of the military and healthcare industry, sees various
stakeholders coming together to discuss current trends and developments in the area of military
health. The conference seeks to foster collaboration between military and civilian sector
stakeholders, highlighting successful initiatives being undertaken to improve the quality of care
provided to members of the Ministry of Defence, and developing new strategies for providing
high-quality medical services.
The slogan of the event is “Lessons Learned and Vision for the Future,” which is set to guide the
discussions during this unparalleled opportunity to learn from experts in the field on a range of
topics related to military health. Speakers include leading international academics, senior
defence officials, representatives from governmental and non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), and experienced practitioners who have direct experience in addressing challenges
facing military personnel and their families.
His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, the UAE
Ministry of Defence commented, “Emirates Military Health Conference is a unique proposition
that is in line with the UAE’s vision of collaboration and cooperation with the international
community. It draws expertise from across the globe to discuss and exchange knowledge on some
of the most important military healthcare issues of our time.”
H.E. Al Bowardi continued, “We live in uncertain times and the requirement to service the health
needs of members of the Armed Forces and civilians in affected areas has never been greater.
Thankfully, technological innovations are assisting in the effective provision of such services in
order to save more lives, and Emirates Military Health Conference is the perfect platform to learn
about such advancements and more.”
The main keynote address was presented by Lt. General Raymond Scott Dingle, US Army Surgeon
General, and Command Sergeant Major Diamond Hough, who highlighted the role of army
medicine, the mission, and how the readiness of the US Forces is built and maintained. They
spoke of the role of non-commissioned officers and how to train the medical community to
maintain readiness within the medical community. The speakers also expressed their views on
how army medicine helps strengthen alliances and partnerships amongst U.S. allies and partners
by gaining access, building trust, developing capabilities, increasing scale, and shaping
interoperability.
The Conference is supported by the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM).
Created in 1921, after the First World War, the ICMM is an international, intergovernmental,
neutral and non-political organisation composed of more than 100 states. The UAE joined the
(ICMM) and became a member in 1984.
The conference incorporates sessions and discussions on a variety of topics including military
health, trauma and emergency medicine, injuries and rehabilitation during battlefield exchanges,
strengthening military-civilian cooperation, and more. Through these activities, participants will
gain the opportunity to exchange ideas, develop solutions-oriented approaches for dealing with
unique challenges confronting military healthcare providers, and gain insights into best practices
that could be applied in their organizations.
In addition to the educational component of the EMHC, there is also be an exhibition area where
exhibitors from around the world are
