Emirates Healthcare Limited (EHL) has
signed a deal with Emaar Healthcare to operate three of its Dubai clinics in a
deal which could see the healthcare operator expand its portfolio into new
markets beyond the GCC.
The group, which is run by the
Switzerland-based Medi-Clinic Corporation, will take over the operations of The
Dubai Mall Medical Centre, Arabian Ranches and Meadows clinics from January 15,
Emaar said in a statement.
EHL, which runs Welcare Hospital and The
City Hospital in Dubai’s Healthcare City, will see its operations expanded from
seven to ten clinics and hospitals in the UAE.
In March 2006, Emaar said it would spend as
much as $5bn investing in healthcare across the MENA and South Asia markets as
part of its diversification plan. But so far the developer has only three
establishments and plans have been stalled amid the downturn.
Despite the delays David Hadley, CEO of
EHL, told Arabian Business that
the deal may be expanded to include Emaar’s new healthcare facilities.
“Whenever they build new communities we are hoping that in the future, we will
be given the opportunity to provide more healthcare in the communities,” he
said.
“From my understanding [with Emaar] they
are looking at India, Turkey and quite a few areas outside of Dubai and
obviously we would be interested there as well. We are the Middle East arm of
Medi-Clinic Corporation so we are interested in those areas and if it extends
to India then we would look at that as well,” he added.
The Medi-Clinic Corporation is one of the
largest listed private hospital groups in the world with 74 hospitals and 1,500
employees.
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