In a bid to promote medical tourism in Dubai, Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), inaugurated the Quironsalud Barcelona Ophthalmological Institute in Dubai on Tuesday.
DUBAI, (Pakistan Point News - 26th Jun, 2018) In a bid to promote medical tourism in Dubai, Humaid Al Qutami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), inaugurated the Quironsalud Barcelona Ophthalmological Institute in Dubai on Tuesday.
The AED45 million day surgery centre is part of the Quironsalud Group, the largest healthcare group in Spain, which has 44 hospitals spread across 14 regions in Spain and Latin America.
The new centre is the group’s first foray outside Europe and Latin America and by far the largest Spanish healthcare investment in the UAE and the middle East.
The ophthalmological centre is equipped with cutting-edge equipment and is home to a multi-disciplinary team of doctors who cover all ophthalmology subspecialties.
Al Qutami inaugurated the centre in the presence of Antonio Alvarez Barthe, Spain’s Ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Jose Maria Perez de Olacoechea, International General Manager of Quironsalud Group, and other officials.
Speaking at the inauguration, Al Qutami said Dubai’s unique geographic location, infrastructure and investment opportunities have made the city a favourable destination for medical investment as it provides an ideal environment for the development and success of international and multinational private hospitals.
"The new centre is a valuable addition to the health sector in Dubai and will support the authority in achieving Dubai’s health tourism goals of attracting more than 500,000 international health tourists to Dubai by 2020. Choosing Dubai to launch its first centre in the Middle East is a testimonial to Dubai's international standing and reflects the opportunities offered by Dubai for this kind of investment. We see the private sector as a strategic partner in our developmental drive. We are constantly working on developing the healthcare sector keeping in mind patient safety, high-quality health services and excellent patient experience," he stated.
Furthermore, Dubai has the necessary processes and regulations put in place by the DHA and based on international standards to ensure their smooth and successful operation.
"Launching the centre in Dubai will strengthen its objectives to attract medical tourists who are looking for a unique treatment experience," Barthe said.
He foresees more Spanish health facilities studying the prospects of investing in Dubai due to the package of incentives and an attractive investment environment, he added.
"The Quironsalud Group is proud to expand its activities into Dubai and the GCC," said Hector Celia, CEO of the Group. "We are confident of the competitiveness of Dubai and the advantages the city offers in supporting our business growth across the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, particularly due to its advanced logistics and connectivity to neighbouring markets."
"Dubai is an ideal platform to connect with our customers outside of Spain and Latin America, and also a bridge to reach out to more than 2.2 billion people living across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, thus growing our business in the region and beyond," Celia added.
The Quironsalud Barcelona Ophthalmological Institute in Umm Al Sheif on Dubai’s Al Wasl Street is a 25,000 square-foot, environmentally friendly facility, said Dr Miguel Marcellio, Medical Director of the centre.
One-third of the energy required in the centre is generated through solar panels. The centre provides state-of-the-art treatment supported by advanced technology and equipment for ultrasound diagnostics and eye and nerve scans, as well as skilled medical and technical staff.
"Dubai is a vital hub for the healthcare industry in the region and its efforts to develop medical tourism," Marcellio said. "The Quironsalud Group is convinced of the importance of having a headquarters in Dubai, especially for ophthalmology. Now that we have a foothold in the UAE we will be looking to expand to other disciplines such as sports medicine, knee and bone surgery and reconstructive medicine."
