Two more hospitals planned to meet surging demand

Dubai: Two more hospitals will be functioning in Dubai soon, bringing the total number to more than 20, the head of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said.

The official said 47 per cent of the health care services in Dubai were provided by private hospitals and plans are to encourage the private sector to take on an even bigger role in the medical sector.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Arab Health Congress, Qadi Saeed Al Murooshid, director general of the DHA, said the population in the Gulf region is growing exponentially and people are living longer, which is driving the accelerated demand for health care services.

Dubai's health services have had a regional impact and health care business comes not only from the UAE but from across the region, he said. "Figures indicate that almost 40 per cent of the private sector's business is coming from the region," he said.

"Today, Dubai has emerged as a destination for medical tourism, and we will continue our efforts in the same direction."

Al Murooshid said that in the "past months several online initiatives such as ‘Sheryan' services have been launched to attract and retain investment in the emirate. ‘Sheryan' is an online licensing system which allows potential investors to apply from anywhere in the world.

The DHA has prepared a document on the benefits of investing in Dubai and the health care sector in several languages, including Chinese and French, he said.