Dubai Healthcare City and Johnson & Johnson explore possibility of a surgical institute

Initial discussions have taken place with a high-level team from Johnson & Johnson, one of the world's most comprehensive and broadly-based manufacturer of healthcare products and provider of related services.

Saeed Al Muntafiq, Chairman of the Board of Dubai Healthcare City, and Adel Saeed Al Shamsi, DHCC Chief Executive Officer, met with the Johnson & Johnson delegation, consisting of David Swearingen, Vice-President Corporate Staff, Corporate Communications from their headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.; Craig McLaren, Managing Director; Bill Hickey, Finance & Shared Services Director; and Sawsan Esbaita, Corporate Communication & Strategic Events Manager.

"Johnson & Johnson is a global company marketing its products in 175 countries. It sells more medical devices than any other company in the world and we are naturally delighted to explore the possibility of establishing a relationship with them, beginning with the development of a regional surgical institute in Dubai Healthcare City," said Al Muntafiq.

"Our discussions also revolved around the possibility of establishing the Middle East headquarters of Johnson & Johnson at DHCC," Al Muntafiq added.

Adel Saeed Al Shamsi said the meeting also discussed the possibility of the DHCC and Johnson & Johnson teaming up to organise and participate in medical education events. They also explored other areas of possible partnerships.

"We discussed collaboration in the areas of medical education and organisation of regional healthcare educational events as well as collaboration in the area of medical and medical equipment research," Al Shamsi added.

David Swearingen said the discussions were highly productive and that the global company now has a better idea about the facilities that DHCC offers, and fully supports the vision of Dubai becoming home to a regional healthcare hub of international standards.

"We will, of course, support the initiative in any way we can. We want to be part of the growth of DHCC as it will create a regional centre for medical excellence and expand the healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical products and services sector," Craig McLaren added.