Healthcare group to set up 50 medical units in the Gulf

An ambitious Dh300 million GCC-wide expansion has been planned by Dr Moopen's Group, with the creation of 50 medical units in the next five years.

The facilities, mainly in the UAE, will include two hospitals, several clinics, pharmacies and allied facilities. The hospitals will be set up with an outlay of about Dh40 million each, according to Dr Azad Moopen, chairman of the company's healthcare management services.

He told Gulf News that the group was keen to press ahead with expansion after establishing a proud reputation over the last 16 years of operations in the UAE. It currently has 10 clinics and an equal number of pharmacies.

"We think we should make bold plans for the next five years based on all the knowledge gained during the last 15 years of operations," he said. More than 500 patients are served daily by the group.

"Our plan for the next five years includes different things such as we are going to have a new system in which the base will be neighbourhood family clinics. Depending on the locality, we will have three to four doctors in neighbourhood and family clinics.

"It will basically have general practitioners, gynaecologists, a paediatrician and dentists. These are the usual requirements in any neighbourhood," Dr Moopen said.

The group will also offer more specialised medical services such as cardiology and neurology.

"In these fields, you need ten to 12 doctors along with the pathologists and neurologists ... If we provide these, we will be able to cover the needs of the community."