The City Hospital to usher in new era in UAE healthcare

• Facility will be first major hospital to open at Dubai Healthcare City
• $100m state-of-the-art hospital will be among the largest and most advanced private healthcare facilities in the region

Built at a cost of more than US$100 million, the new facility will become one of the largest and most technologically advanced private hospitals in the region. The facility is set to open in the second quarter of 2008.

The completion of The City Hospital, will be a further milestone in the development of the Emirates Healthcare, a joint venture between Medi-Clinic International, the Varkey group and General Electric. Medi-Clinic International, a company with 25 years of experience in hospital development and management, operates in 4 countries and manages in excess of 70 hospitals worldwide including the recently acquired Hirslanden group of Switzerland. The Varkey group is a well established local group with extended interests in Education and the founder of the Welcare Hospital. General Electric is one of the largest companies in the world with extensive healthcare interests.

"We will be measuring ourselves against the best hospitals in the world," said David Hadley, Manager, The City Hospital.

"All of our facilities abide by a number of firm principles, which include the provision of cost-effective quality care, the latest medical technologies and, above all, skilled and experienced staff members. A hospital is only as good as the people who run it. This is what will ultimately make a difference at The City Hospital."

Hadley revealed that more than a year has been spent in recruiting technicians and doctors from around the world, ensuring that the battery of sophisticated technology at the hospital is used to its full potential and that patients get treatment in line with that offered in Europe, the US and other highly developed markets.

"Good systems and good management matter," he said. "We have a lot of international experience, and we understand what running hospitals is about."

The City Hospital will offer a range of specialties that is among the widest available under one roof, including Cardiology, Trauma and Mother & Child. The hospital's digital diagnostic equipment will include a 3T MRI, as well as a 64-slice CT scanner. It will also offer Digital Mammography, Digital Bone Densitometry, a Digital Catheterization Laboratory, a full on-site Pathology Laboratory and a maternity floor.

The new hospital, said Hadley, will provide high levels of comfort and privacy in order to foster a sense of wellbeing among patients. "The hospital will have 210 beds spread out across eight levels, and every bed will occupy its own private space," he said. "We believe a soothing environment to be an important part of the healing process." The City Hospital will also have, on each floor, two secluded prayer rooms.

The hospital's dedicated VIP floor, meanwhile, will have its own separate entrance, lift and limousine parking, along with VIP suites, Presidential suites and a Royal suite, with access to a private swimming pool and gymnasium.