Abu Dhabi healthcare investment at Dh18bn |
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Investment in Abu Dhabi's health sector reached Dh18 billion and is the best kind of investment because of high returns and promising growth, said a top official.
Moreover, the sector has not been affected by the global financial crisis, which had impacted the banking and real estate sectors, Zaid Al Siksek, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Health AuthorityAbu Dhabi Health Authority
told Emirates Business. Al Siksek said although the property market had given very high returns and could not be matched, the health sector had also been quite successful. "The sector has received big support from the government, especially as expatriates have been included in the health insurance system in the emirate," he said, adding the Thiqa health insurance scheme floated by the government for nationals had increased the number of patients availing treatment in private hospitals.
Speaking on the sidelines of the first Abu Dhabi Healthcare Investor Conference, Al Siksek said investment in the medical sector had increased by more than 40 per cent in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2007. He said new projects valued at billions of dirhams were being carried out at the present. Over the next few years, around 2,000 beds will be added to medical services at a cost of more than Dh5 billion. He said the medical sector in the emirate was being given all facilities in terms of land allocation and provision of licences.
In addition, the government, he said, always encouraged nationals and expatriates to enter the sector. Al Siksek said the number of medical establishments is expected to increase twofold over the next three years. He said the government generally sets up about 80 per cent of the facilities in the sector, while the private sector takes care of the remaining 20 per cent. But this is set to change. "The share of the private sector participation will definitely increase following the big demand and its seriousness to implement new projects," Al Siksek said.
Meanwhile, Dr BR Shetty, Managing Director and CEO of New Medical GroupNew Medical Group
, said that his group had allocated Dh2.5bn to set up a big hospital, clinics, pharmacies and medical training centres in the emirate over the next two years.By Abdel Hai Mohamad
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
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How much of this investment is on Health IT? I have read that the use of EMR's has been discussed and the use of SNOMED CT would make sense due to the large number of people that come in and out of the area. This type of standardization would enable medical records to be shared no matter the country or language. [Report Abuse | Email to a Friend | Reply to this Comment]