Design plan completed for $1bn Oman medical city

A detailed design masterplan for a $1bn medical city in Oman has been completed, officials have announced.

Apex Medical Group, which is developing the healthcare project, said US-based PSOMAS has finished work on the infrastructure plan for the International Medical City (IMC).

Apex president Dr Abdullah Al Joaib said: "Building on the rising trend of medical and health tourism, the International Medical City will be developed in a serene setting on the coast, just east of Salalah, where patients and their families may stay in an environment that is supportive and culturally aware of their individual lifestyles.

"Site layout and land uses have been carefully placed to provide synergy and promote interaction between related activities. IMC Masterplan design was performed with a careful look into sustainability of project and with adherence to environmental regulations."

Ross Baker, vice president of PSOMAS, added: "PSOMAS provided strategic planning and infrastructure design to refine the International Medical City concept plans into a comprehensive technical master plan.

"PSOMAS is pleased to play role in the development of this strategic project and looks forward to a long term relationship with IMC."

Envisaged as a 530-bed tertiary care multispecialty hospital, the $1bn International Medical City will also include a transplant and dialysis centre of excellence, a rehabilitation centre, and a diagnostic centre of excellence.

Other facilities include a trauma and emergency unit, ambulance services, intensive care unit, blood bank, pharmacy, and organ transplant donor registry, as well as a four-star hotel.

Oman built its last major hospital 20 years ago and a growing population is stretching the Gulf Arab state's healthcare.

The population is expanding at four percent a year; the latest official census shows there are 3.2 million people in the sultanate, of which 1.3 million are foreign workers.