September 2009 - Features

Features
	Medical Law - Brain death legislation and organ transplantation in the Islamic world Abrar Khan, MD, MS, MPhil, FACS, discusses the concept of brain death and the implications of brain death legislation on organ transplantation and hospital resource management.

	Spa Reviews - Consider complementing your treatment with alternative therapies Spas, besides the luxuriant pampering nature of these increasingly popular alternative health facilities, do offer medical benefits ranging from rehydration to detoxification and relaxation to anti-ageing.

	Sports Medicine - Use of musculoskeletal allograft tissue for complex knee injuries increases Musculoskeletal allograft tissue use is increasing in popularity in the Middle East. Sarah Hamida Javaid spoke to Dr Peter Fowler, chief medical officer of Aspetar-Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital.

Interviews
	Interview - Healthcare Communications - Targeting the Middle East Global healthcare agency McCann Healthcare Worldwide is setting up shop in Dubai. Callan Emery spoke to Richard Nordstrom, the Chairman and CEO, to find out more about the company and what’s attracting them to the Middle East.

Regional Reports
	Saudi Arabia Report - Creating a sustainable healthcare system Although Saudi Arabia is a relatively wealthy country per capita – the country has the world’s largest oil reserves and is the world’s largest exporter of oil – it nonetheless has been facing a mounting financial burden from healthcare expenditure in its effort to sustain its national healthcare system.

News Features
	Afghanistan Report - Fighting a stubborn polio virus Despite efforts to eliminate polio in Afghanistan since 1980, the disease is still prevalent: at least 10 children have caught the virus in the past six months, according to health officials.

	Yemen Report - Poor diabetics at risk as MoH runs out of insulin Throughout July and August, Yemen’s Ministry of Health has been running out of insulin supplies due to a lack of funds, putting many diabetics in danger or great discomfort.

	Palestine Report - Gaza healthcare in dismal state Arafat Hamdona, 20, has been confined to the cancer unit of As-Shifa, Gaza’s primary hospital, since he was diagnosed with maxillary skin tumours in June 2008. Red lesions protrude from his face, his features are distorted and his eyes swollen shut.

	Population - Unprecedented global ageing to create new health, socioeconomic challenges The average age of the world’s population is increasing at an unprecedented rate. The number of people worldwide age 65 and older is estimated at 506 million as of mid-year 2008; by 2040, that number will hit 1.3 billion.

	Dubai Healthcare City pioneers integration of CAM and clinical medicine Over the past few years Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), working quietly behind the scenes, has made major inroads in the integration of conventional clinical medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) at DHCC.

	HMSDC Update - Diabetes in the Arab world: An emerging silent epidemic Diabetes is a global problem with devastating human, social and economic impact. The impact of diabetes is considerable since at least 171 million people worldwide have diabetes.