Mediclinic flags Middle East revenue drop

Mediclinic took over Abu Dhabi’s Al Noor Hospitals Group last year and started consolidating the group’s hospitals with its own Dubai operations. Ravindranath K / The National

The South African private health care provider Mediclinic expects a drop in revenue and margins at its Middle East business, it said on Tuesday, sending its shares down more than 5 per cent in London and Johannesburg.

Mediclinic took over Abu Dhabi’s Al Noor Hospitals Group last year and started consolidating the group’s hospitals with its own Dubai operations.

However, patient volumes and trading performance in Abu Dhabi have been below expectations and the company said it has decided to cut administrative personnel and look for other ways to cut costs in the region.

“The challenging environment in Abu Dhabi has unfortunately continued into the second half of the year. We are taking many steps to build the foundations for a successful, sustainable, long-term business in the Middle East,” it said.

The chief executive Danie Meintjes said that the company expects declines in revenue and its underlying Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) margin for the Middle East for its 2016/17 financial year.

The company said it expects an Ebitda margin of 10 to 11 per cent, compared with 20.9 per cent before the Al Noor deal.

The Al Noor hospitals, the rebranding of which is expected to be completed by next year, have also been impacted by a significant outflow of doctors, even before Mediclinic took over. Mr Meintjes said he will focus on recruitment to address arrest the skills losses.

Mediclinic said that its two largest platforms in Switzerland and southern Africa traded in line with full-year expectations.

* Reuters

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