Mayo Clinic will bring unique experience

Another major player in the healthcare sector has been signed up to join Dubai Healthcare City. The Mayo Clinic has already started its first cardiology clinic in Dubai – considered a major event as it was the first time the organisation had set up such a base outside the US.

This will relocate to Dubai Healthcare City when the complex opens.

Adel Al Shamsi, chairman of Dubai Healthcare City, said: "We thought it was important to bring Mayo's cardiology centre as soon as possible because patients with cardiovascular disease in the region cannot wait.

The disease affects not only people in the UAE but also the whole region. That is why we wanted to start early, because the establishment of any medical unit for these diseases takes some time to achieve its role," he said.

Mayo has been one of the biggest health establishments in the US for more than 100 years.

In an interview with Gulf News, Hugh C. Smith, chairman of governors at Mayo Medical School, highlighted the prospective role of his organisation at DHCC.

Gulf News: What made you choose DHCC as a location?
Hugh Smith: We were approached by many countries like South Africa, France, Singapore, Thailand, and many others which we turned down. When we were approached by the DHCC we found their vision exciting, and we think they are headed in the right direction. They are building a health care facility for the future and for the whole region.

We have traditionally aimed to be one of the USA's leading healthcare establishments. We see many patients from over 150 countries, and a large percentage of the patients come from the Middle East. Of this, a high percentage is from the GCC region like the UAE.

We will bring some of our own unique experience to contribute to the project.

What is the main goal of DHCC as you see it?
The main goal is to bring together a partnership of people with expertise in medical practice, medical education, medical research and medical administration. In doing so DHCC will build a real and advanced health care system for this region."

Will the cost of medical treatment at Mayo Clinic at DHCC be less or more than the cost in the US?
The cost will be much cheaper as 50 per cent of the costs that patients pay when they visit us in the US are for accommodation, air tickets, and food. By eliminating these costs it is much cheaper for patients, as well as the government to send patients for treatments at Mayo in DHCC."

What made you start the Cardiology Clinic in Dubai before the completion of DHCC?
We wanted to get the practice going so that when we move to DHCC we are already operating with good local experience.

It was important for us to start our out-patient cardiology services at this stage and the clinic started operating on November 3 at the API Tower in Dubai. We will be located there until the completion of DHCC."

Can you describe the services of the Cardiology Clinic?
It is a consultative cardiovascular practice. We see patients with established or suspected cardiovascular disease for a second opinion. We will be doing only out-patient consultation supplemented by echo cardiography for the examination of the heart and blood vessels. It gives very detailed consultation about cardiac structure and cardiac function.

"The majority of heart disease can be detected and fully analysed by a comprehensive echo examination. We believe by having that with the physical examination history we will be able to provide a very good consultation."

Why cardiology services only?
Cardiology is phase one of our involvement. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of men and women and understandably every country wants to combat it. As we build on our experience, it is possible that we will start to contribute a significant role to other kinds of treatment offered at DHCC such as cancer treatment and neurosurgery.