Joslin Diabetes Center and Gulf Diabetes Specialists Center in Bahrain Team Up to Launch Region's First Treatment Center to Address Growing Diabetes Epidemic.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003

Joslin Diabetes Center and the Gulf Diabetes Specialists Center in Bahrain have signed a five-year agreement to establish a state-of-the-art treatment center to provide specialty care for people with diabetes. Located in Manama next to the Salmaniya Medical Complex and Arabian Gulf University, the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate - Bahrain is the region's first medical center devoted entirely to the treatment of diabetes and related complications. The new center is in the final stages of construction, and is expected to officially open early in 2004.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes currently affects more than 25.5 percent of the Bahraini population while 40 percent of the population is at risk of developing the disease. This is one of the highest population percentages with diabetes in the world. (See http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/news/Bahrain02.shtml : separate document for additional background on diabetes in Bahrain.)

"The Middle East is facing a health crisis as a substantial percentage of its population either has diabetes or is at risk of developing diabetes," said C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., President and Director, Joslin Diabetes Center, and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "This Affiliate relationship allows the expertise of Joslin to be transmitted to an outstanding team of Bahraini medical professionals and enables Joslin's proven approach to diabetes treatment to be brought to bear on this epidemic."

The agreement brings to Bahrain Joslin Diabetes Center's respected disease management programs designed to help prevent complications. The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate - Bahrain will leverage telemedicine technology that enables Joslin specialists in Boston to assess images of the retina using the Joslin Vision Network, a digital retinal evaluation tool that enables the early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

In addition, the Bahrain center will have access to and regular consultation from Joslin's experts in clinical, educational and operational issues. These experts from Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston will train Bahraini medical professionals on the latest Joslin clinical guidelines and help them implement these techniques and processes. The Bahrain Center also will have access to Joslin's wide range of program manuals and patient education materials for the care and education of people with diabetes as well as their families.

Joslin Overseer Khalid M. Kanoo, Managing Director of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group of Companies and Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, initiated the alliance. Working with Alan Jacobson, M.D., Senior Vice President of Joslin's Strategic Initiatives Division, and Antoine Kaldany, M.D., Director of International Programs at Joslin, Mr. Kanoo helped develop the plans for the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate - Bahrain, and worked to secure the land, the funding and the Bahraini government approval for the project.

"Since the early 1990s, the Bahrain Ministry of Health's strategic plan has included a focus on diabetes treatment," said Mr. Kanoo. "This center will help Bahrain raise diabetes awareness and introduce cost-effective treatment strategies to prevent and treat this devastating chronic disease."

The Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center is an outpatient medical center specifically designed to provide diabetes prevention programs as well as multidisciplinary education and treatment for people with diabetes and their families.

Joslin has affiliated programs at more than 20 locations across the U.S. "As part of our mission of global education, Joslin has assisted organizations in the development of diabetes programs in other countries, such as Japan, Brazil and India," said Dr. Jacobson. "However, this is our first formal international affiliate. Our hope is that this is the first of many that will make a positive impact on populations across the globe."

Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate Services in Bahrain

Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate - Bahrain will offer processes and tools to clinicians and diabetes patients that decrease variability in practice; reduce short- and long-term complications; and improve quality of life.

Evidence-based clinical guidelines provide a basis for diabetes treatment and intervention strategies. Joslin's Clinical Guideline for Adults with Diabetes outlines the screening frequency, goals, and treatment recommendations for lab evaluations and physical examinations for diabetes and associated conditions. Recommendations for evaluation and management of A1C, micro/macroproteinuria, lipids and cholesterol, peripheral vascular, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, smoking cessation, retinopathy and eye health, immunizations, women's health, men's health, and visit frequency are all incorporated into the Guideline.

About the Bahrain Ministry of Health

The Government of Bahrain places a high priority on access to comprehensive health care for its citizens. Treatment by the Kingdom medical services is available to citizens and residents free, or at a nominal cost. The Bahrain Ministry of Health, with coordination of other Ministries, the private sector and the community, provides integrated preventive and curative health services through a network of primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities. The Minister of Health, Dr. Khalil Hassan, is a member of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Prime Minister of the State, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa. For more information visit www.moh.gov.bh.

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, is the global leader in diabetes research, care and education and is uniquely qualified to lead the battle against diabetes in the 21st century. Joslin Research is a team of over 300 people at the forefront of discovery aimed at preventing and curing diabetes. Joslin Clinic, affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the nationwide network of Joslin Affiliated Programs, and the hundreds of Joslin educational programs offered each year for clinicians, researchers and patients enable Joslin to develop, implement and share innovations that immeasurably improve the lives of people with diabetes. As a non-profit institution, Joslin relies upon the generosity of donations to support its programs. For more information on Joslin, call 1-800-JOSLIN-1 or visit www.joslin.org.