Muscat, Oman hosts the 16th Arab Transfusion Medicine Forum

The proceedings commenced with an opening ceremony under the patronage of Honourable Ali Hamdan Yousuf Al Shirawi, member of the State Council of Oman. The event began with a reception attended by the ISBT Vice President,Lin Fung, along with the OSH and ATMF board members (Figure 2), followed by the official opening ceremony (Figure 3). Notable opening addresses were delivered by Muna Al Tarshi, OSH board member (Figure 4) and Arwa Al Riyami, President of the ATMF Conference (Figure 5). Arwa emphasised that hosting this event marked a significant milestone for transfusion medicine in Oman. For the first time, the forum was held in the country, underscoring Oman’s commitment to advancing laboratory and clinical practice in transfusion medicine and uniting expertise, research, and practice around a shared vision. She further highlighted that support from the ISBT Academy opens doors to broader regional and international collaboration, paving the way for future international conferences in the field of Transfusion Medicine in Oman and in the region, carrying forward the Hematology Society’s mission to foster excellence in transfusion medicine practices.

The one-day forum attracted 583 participants, bringing together experts, clinicians, scientists, researchers, and industry partners from across Oman and the wider Arab region (Figure 6). It served as a key platform for discussing recent advancements, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening regional cooperation in transfusion medicine. The programme comprised six scientific sessions and two industry symposia, covering topics such as donors and blood donation, advances in transfusion medicine, clinical transfusion, transfusion safety and quality, and organisation and management.

The Donors and Blood Donation session featured Dr. Lin Fung, who addressed global challenges related to blood collection and the maintenance of adequate blood supplies (Figure 7). Subsequent presentations from regional experts highlighted innovative strategies for donor recruitment in the UAE and provided insights into voluntary blood donation, as well as the contributions of non-profit organizations within Saudi Arabia.

The Advances in Transfusion Medicine session examined the application of emerging AI technologies in donor recruitment and the incorporation of AI and virtual reality to enhance the donor experience. Additionally, topics included the use of predictive modelling to forecast blood supply, optimize inventory, minimize wastage, and improve transfusion orders through decision support systems. The discussion also covered ongoing challenges associated with implementing AI models, specifically regulatory, expertise-related, and cost barriers that hinder adoption in healthcare. The session concluded with an overview of novel methods for local immunoglobulin preparation, their potential applications, and clinical trials conducted in Egypt, with future studies planned to further assess efficacy.