Health care in GCC to touch $55b in 9 years

Dubai: The premier health congress in the region ended yesterday with leaders in the industry calling for massive investments to meet the future health service needs of the population.

The cost of health care in the GCC will triple to $55 billion (Dh198 billion) within the next nine years, analysts said, as population in the Gulf States are expected to double within the next two decades.

Health care professionals debated over four days on developing business models for a sustainable delivery of future health care, also paying attention to cost savings because of the global economic downturn.

But the need for investment is acute as the population in the region ages and millions are affected by life-style diseases. Many health care systems in the region are in need of innovation, better quality control and there is also a lack of better and faster access to services for patients.

The adoption of a Westernised lifestyle, the popularity and cheap availability of fast foods, lack of exercise and sedentary habits have created a diabetic and obesity epidemic in the region. Health care professionals feel the best way to tackle the growing diseases in the region, from cancers to obesity-related ailments is creating awareness among people, many of whom still woefully lack the means to lead a healthy life.

New portal

Thousands of health care professionals took part in various congresses dealing with various aspects of diseases and how best to treat them. During the Arab Health congress the Ministry of Health launched a new web portal. The portal was launched by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.

Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, said it will help raise health awareness of people as it will provide information and give advise on health issues and also offer a variety of services. The portal will include an electronic surveillance system of infectious diseases.

The Dubai Health care City also announced the launch of "Find a Doctor" iPhone app to locate any health care provider in the free zone.

Find a doctor

The app can be downloaded from the DHCC website www.dhcc.ae or directly through the iTunes store.