Hospitals are introducing advanced surgeries in a bid to attract medical tourists to the Emirates.
NMC Healthcare, which runs 12 hospitals and clinics, said yesterday that it would undertake minimally invasive surgeries in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain. The procedures include varicose vein treatment, keyhole surgery for hernia and appendicitis, bariatric surgery to tackle obesity and a range of treatment options for cancer.
“While historically Emiratis and expats would travel abroad to cities in Europe, Asia or the United States to receive treatment for conditions that require surgery, confidence in the UAE’s healthcare standards has skyrocketed over the past decade,” said BR Shetty, the founder and chief executive of NMC Healthcare.
The number of medical tourists reached 135,000 last year, up from 120,000 in 2013, according to Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The number is expected to exceed 150,000 by the end of the year, estimates the consultant Colliers International.
DHA has a set a target to attract 500,000 medical tourists a year by 2020.
Although it is a tough target to hit, analysts are optimistic given the steps in place to reverse the trend of patients going abroad for treatment and attract patients from outside.
DHA is planning medical tourism packages covering dermatology, dental, health check-ups, cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology and orthopaedics, along with a medical tourism visa. The packages would include hotel stays and flight tickets. The emirate has 24 private hospitals regulated by DHA, and 10 more are under construction.
In Abu Dhabi, international hospitals are setting up a presence here. The Singapore-based Parkway Pantai manages Danat Al Emarat Women and Children’s Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Parkway’s facilities in South East Asia include Mount Elizabeth and Gleneagles in Singapore and Pantai in Kuala Lumpur. The multi-speciality Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open this year.
“The local investors and partners are looking to bring the branches of international hospitals where Emiratis, Saudis and other Arabian Gulf nationals go, and there is also a lot of shopping that can be done here,” said Mansoor Ahmed, the director of health care for the Middle East and North Africa at Colliers.
“The target is not only patients from the UAE, as there are not enough numbers, but also those from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran who are coming to the UAE rather than going to the Far East. Moreover, some hospitals provide good quality surgeries that were not there in the UAE, say, 10 years ago.”
NMC is not the only one to push for state-of-the-art surgeries. Last month, doctors at Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Hospital replaced three hip and knee joints simultaneously in a patient who flew to the UAE to be treated for rheumatoid arthritis.
In November, RAK Hospital started a specialised eye care centre. Owned by Arabian Healthcare Group, it provides surgeries and rehabilitation services.
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
65
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The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km