Boehringer Ingelheim Saudi Arabia Hosts Virtual Summit on the Latest Updates in Diabetes, Cardio-Metabolism, Respiratory Diseases and Stroke Management

Boehringer Ingelheim brought together 3,000 healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia this week to a virtual deep dive into the latest evidence-based updates in the therapeutic areas of diabetes, cardio-metabolism, respiratory diseases, and stroke management. 

The online summit, organized by Boehringer Ingelheim - one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies – utilised virtual technology to create a live environment for healthcare professionals to share their experiences. Cardiologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, and other experts registered at the virtual reception and walked through the hall before choosing their preferred conference room in a unique digital experience. 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which accounts for almost 36% of all annual deaths in Saudi Arabia[1], was one of the primary topics discussed at the conference, with a special focus on the link between cardiovascular complications and the new classes of oral antidiabetic drugs.

The implementation of telemedicine in stroke care was discussed while with respect to respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was underscored, currently prevalent among 2.4% of the general population and 14.2% among smokers over 40 years of age[2] with cases expected to increase.

“Digitalization is fundamentally changing the pharmaceutical industry and we at Boehringer Ingelheim are embracing its role as an intrinsic part of our business development,” said Waleed Mashak, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim Saudi Arabia. “We are delighted to be organizing digital events of quality in the Kingdom, to deliver on our promise of providing healthcare professionals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with continuous and uninterrupted updates on the latest medical and scientific evidence in different medical fields, which will undoubtedly be of great benefit for the patients of Saudi Arabia.”

“Summits such as these are vital as they allow the exchange of knowledge and provide the opportunity for healthcare professionals to share best practices with one another and keep up-to-date on the latest information and findings,” explained Dr. Hussein Elbadawi, consultant endocrinologist at My Clinic International Center Jeddah. “We are grateful for Boehringer Ingelheim’s efforts in providing this platform, which has broken the geographic constraints imposed by the current pandemic and allowed health professionals from across the Kingdom to come together and share their expertise.”

The summit was held in collaboration with the Saudi Heart Association, Saudi Scientific Diabetes Society, Saudi Stroke Society, and Saudi Society of Internal Medicine. “Such partnerships with societies across the Kingdom are vital to us as they offer enhanced creditability and reach of audience brought to the table by each of the participating societies,” added Mashak.

Dr. Saeed Alghamdi, Consultant Stroke and Cerebrovascular diseases Neurologist and President of the Saudi Stroke Society also shared his appreciation of the summit, “Through this multi-therapeutic event, healthcare professionals from across the Kingdom were able to gain valuable and reliable information, which will ultimately benefit Saudi Arabia’s healthcare offering. It was especially insightful with regards to the field of stroke and neurology given that the occurrence of strokes is considered a major challenge to the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, with the incidence rate of first-time stroke standing at 57.64 per 100,000[3]”

The summit is one of a series of virtual events launched by Boehringer Ingelheim in the region as part of its commitment to provide a continuous source of reliable education for healthcare professionals specialising in various diseases areas and focuses, with each one designed to overcome the social distancing restrictions brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Boehringer Ingelheim plans to hold this event on an annual basis to ensure the continuous provision of latest updates and the exchange of best medical practices in the Kingdom.