Health
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2014
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Fuelled by higher incomes; the growing, ageing population; a rise in the prevalence of lifestyle diseases; and the introduction of mandatory health insurance, Abu Dhabi’s health sector has expanded rapidly in the past five years. Given demographic trends, in 2011 the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) estimated that by 2021, Abu Dhabi will need up to an additional 1900 doctors, 5300 nurses and 1700 hospital beds. The government is building new facilities, hiring doctors and training nationals to keep pace with demand. Meanwhile, private providers are taking up the numerous opportunities presented by this growing market. The private sector will likely expand by investing in high-volume needs such as reproductive health or communicable diseases, while areas such as acute and tertiary care are expected to remain the purview of government hospitals.
This chapter contains interviews with Mohammed Sultan Al Hameli, Chairman, Health Authority – Abu Dhabi; and Saif Al Qubaisi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Better care: Capacity is being expanded and there are significant opportunities in some specialty areas
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Fuelled by higher incomes; the growing, ageing population; a rise in the prevalence of lifestyle diseases; and the introduction of mandatory health insurance, Abu Dhabi’s health sector has expanded rapidly in the past five years. This has placed pressure on the sector, and the government is building new facilities, hiring doctors and training nationals to keep pace with demand. Meanwhile, private providers are taking up the numerous opportunities presented in this growing market. Rising Demand Given…

Analysis

Taking action: Combating the rise in lifestyle-related illness
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In line with the rapid development of its economy, Abu Dhabi has experienced rising demand for health services, particularly for treatment of non-communicable diseases. More robust diagnosis and treatment options are responsible for increasing identification of diseases from cancer to diabetes. However, the rise in non-communicable diseases is also attributable to the shift in lifestyle and norms among nationals. To combat the rise in non-communicable diseases, the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD)…

Interview

Making great strides: OBG talks to Mohammed Sultan Al Hameli, Former Chairman, Health Authority – Abu Dhabi
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Interview:Mohammed Sultan Al Hameli To what extent have regulatory obstacles been removed in order to streamline licensing? What more can be done in this regard? MOHAMMED SULTAN AL HAMELI: Initially, the licensing process was intentionally developed to be stringent, as we wanted to ensure that we constructed a solid foundation on which to build a strong health care sector. As a result it would often take a considerable amount of time for a physician to be granted a licence or for a health…

Interview

OBG talks to Saif Al Qubaisi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA)
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Interview:Saif Al Qubaisi To what extent do infrastructure and support service facilities need to be developed to meet the growing demand for both primary and secondary health care? SAIF AL QUBAISI: Currently, the development of new hospitals is under way on a scale unprecedented in the regional health care industry. Construction projects are being implemented in phases and will be completed over the next five to 10 years. These projects include the following: • New Mafraq Hospital –…

Interview

OBG talks to Saif Al Qubaisi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA)
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Interview:Saif Al Qubaisi To what extent do infrastructure and support service facilities need to be developed to meet the growing demand for both primary and secondary health care? SAIF AL QUBAISI: Currently, the development of new hospitals is under way on a scale unprecedented in the regional health care industry. Construction projects are being implemented in phases and will be completed over the next five to 10 years. These projects include the following: • New Mafraq Hospital –…

Analysis

Knock-on effects: Growth in the health care sector is providing a range of opportunities
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With a growing population and increasing incidence of lifestyle-related conditions, the government of Abu Dhabi and the private sector have embarked on an ambitious strategy to add over a dozen new medical facilities to the emirate’s health care sector over the next several years. Offering services that will ease capacity constraints and potentially retain revenues that might otherwise be spent on outbound medical tourism, new hospitals in Abu Dhabi have also provided investment opportunities to…