GCC lags behind in attracting medical tourism (page 1 of 2)

Dr Ashraf Kamel has not felt the economic crisis as most entrepreneurs have in Dubai. Since the Egyptian-born urologist set up the German Medical Centre in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) free zone in May 2005, Dr Kamel and his team have treated almost 12,000 patients, with the team growing from an initial half a dozen doctors to 20 professionals. "We are attracting patients from Egypt to Afghanistan", the Managing Director of the German Medical Centre told AMEInfo.com.

The $1.8bn-valued DHCC is the world's first healthcare free zone, allowing owners of hospitals, medical schools or recreational centres to own up to 100% of the entity. These entities can also hire staff regardless of their nationality and keep 100% of the generated profits.

The DHCC has grown each year, receiving over 200,000 patients up to last year, with global brands such as Harvard Medical School, Boston University, Mayo Clinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson and Novartis based there.

DHCC is home to 5,000 healthcare professionals, 90 out-patient clinics, two hospitals and over 100 commercial and retail services. The Medical Community, occupying an area of 4.1 million square feet, focuses on clinical services for disease treatment and prevention, while the Wellness Community occupies 19 million square feet.

Travelling for treatment

However, not every clinic in Dubai has been as successful as the German Medical Centre. In fact, the entire healthcare sector in the GCC is still in its infancy. According to Kathe Mullally, Director Licensing at DHCC, over two thirds of UAE residents prefer to get treatment abroad.

While Westerners tend to visit doctors back in their home countries, locals are opting for operations anywhere - as long as they are convinced of the quality. Preferred destinations for Emiratis and Arab expats are clinics in India, Thailand, Germany, the UK and North America. Hospitals in Bangkok even hire Arabic-speaking nurses and service staff, in order to attract GCC nationals. The global medical tourism industry is estimated at $60bn annually.

Ironically, the Gulf countries are not lacking in healthcare staff. The GCC and the UAE in particular benefited from a mass exodus of Iraqi doctors who left their country during the UN embargo in the 1990s and in the wake of the US-led 2003 invasion. Excellently equipped and well-financed, the sector simply lacks know-how and customer-oriented service.

"A state-of-the-art operation room does neither mean high standards nor does it automatically lead to the required know-how", says Dr Gerald Zimmermann, an orthopedic specialist and visiting doctor at the German Medical Centre.

Increase in obesity

Typical health problems in the GCC are diseases associated with 'wealthy' societies such as obesity, cardiac attacks and diabetes. Kuwait's Body-Mass-Index, the world-wide accepted indication for obesity is as high as in the USA and in West-Samoa.

This is the result of one of the highest living standards in the world and because of neglecting sports and cardio-vascular activity and overindulging in fast food.

According to Abu Dhabi Ministry of Health, diabetes mellitus accounts for 75% of deaths among UAE nationals and 31% among non-nationals.