A recent study by the Dubai Health Authority disclosed that 75 per cent of the low-income expatriates in Dubai lacked coverage of health insurance.

Almost three-quarters of Asian and Arab expats living in the emirate suffer due to the non-coverage of health insurance schemes, revealed the Dubai Household Health Survey.

A panel of healthcare industry leaders based in Dubai discusses the shocking observation of the survey that many expatriates do not seek treatment on time and neglect their conditions due to the higher healthcare costs.

They criticised the negative attitude of many establishments on provision of health coverage to employees and their families, even though the health insurance schemes are much cheaper than in the US or Europe.

“The economic reality of the employees should be considered by the employer and the government,” the experts opined.

A huge disparity is obvious between the low and high-income groups in enjoying the benefits of quality and transparent healthcare services in Dubai.

“The question of unaffordability of healthcare by people in the lower socio-economic strata has to be answered by refining the general assumption on healthcare provision to different brackets of the people,” said Dr Azad Moopen, chairman of DM Healthcare in Dubai.

“The discrimination is, basically, not because of the unavailability of the healthcare. It turned out like this due to the ignorance of corporate groups or companies on the wellness of their workers,” he pointed out.

The emirate of Abu Dhabi has a mandatory health insurance programme for all companies’ employees and their families.

Dr Nawab Shafi ul Mulk, chief of Global Hawk Telemedicine Services in Dubai, pointed out that Dubai has yet to enforce the laws that make it compulsory for all workers to have a health cover.

“The emirate had planned to introduce universal health coverage in January 2009, requiring every employer to pay a set fee to the government for each employee,” he said.

 “This money would have been used to provide employees with ‘free access to basic health care.’ However, this scheme has yet to be introduced.”

Thumbay Moideen, founder president of Gulf Medical University and Hospital, the first private teaching hospital in the UAE, said that the healthcare sector required a massive change in the outlook of planning to cater to the needs of the low-income groups.

“All the hospitals and clinics should subsidise the prices to cater to the masses. The healthcare service providers play a major role in alleviating the worries faced by the low-income group,” he added.

Dr KP Hussain, Managing Director and CEO of Fathima Healthcare Group, pointed out that most of the corporate groups in Dubai provide medical insurance to only employees in the managerial level.

“Less-paid staff members are not given any support by the employers, while budgeting plans of corporate firms allot annual insurance premium of Dhs2,000 to Dhs3,000 per staff in the managerial level,” he said.

Dr Moopen pointed out that it’s the responsibility of the employer to cover decent basic healthcare, except luxury treatments like cosmetic procedures.

“Each employer already has to invest around Dhs10,000 on each employee’s visa costs. Adding an additional Dhs1,000 on their insurance coverage is not a big deal at all,” he noted.

According to him, a statutory requirement should be enforced on employers on providing workers with the health insurance coverage.

Dr Mulk suggested introduction of models for social health insurance coverage programmes, funded by both the government and the employers. “Such programmes can ensure privileges of all sorts of basic health treatments to the people from the low-income bracket and their dependants,” he added.

“The laws should come into effect as soon as possible as it will facilitate the suffering people as the medical costs are higher,” he said.

Dr Hussain elaborated, “Ten years before, many insurance companies were providing medical services to corporate establishments with high premium for their white collar employees. And blue collar workers were neglected due to the high cost of premium which the establishments had to pay. Hence, the lower and middle income group could not get medical coverage.”

“Many people of lower income earners were suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disorders. For treating the diseases they needed a minimum Dhs400 to 500 per month,” added the medical insurance expert.

“This scenario gave birth to the concept of providing cost-effective and comprehensive medical services for the lower and middle income groups, so they could avail the services throughout the year by paying a small premium to the insurance companies,” he noted

ABU DHABI — The growth of the region’s healthcare sector could be hampered due to lack of trained nurses, said Obaid Al Jenaidi, president of the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA).

Speaking ahead of the first annual Nursing Conference in October, the keynote speaker said: “The notable factor in the Middle East is that the caregiver and the caretaker are all from different countries. The Middle East’s healthcare sector is growing rapidly but this growth could be affected by the lack of trained nurses from national populations.”

To address this, the “governments are successfully implementing strategies to invest in and develop their national medical infrastructure to serve the region’s growing population as well as means of attracting foreign investments”,  Al Jenaidi said.

According to Al Jenaidi, the region needs to catch up in the areas of medical infrastructure, training facilities and continuing nursing education. In the West, nurses spend at least 10 to 20 per cent of their annual income to further their knowledge, while here this trend has yet to be seen.

“In this region, little or no importance is given to the competency cycle which is a great tool to empower and to further educate nurses,” he pointed out.

Academic and basic nursing education in the region should be of international standards and hospital facilities provided for nursing students to practise should be of accredited standards.

Al Jenaidi added that English, as an international language, should be the medium of communication and that educational qualification and experience alone should determine Nursing Leaders and positions of authority, a practice that is yet to fully develop in the Middle East.

Hosted by IIR Middle East, the Nursing Conference will be held during the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress (ADMC) from October 17-19 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Noting the importance of the conference, Al Jenaidi said the event would focus on the various strategies of educational training related to nurses.

“This conference could be a new beginning for various new strategies as there is a lot of involvement from the national decision makers,” concluded Al Jenaidi. — olivia@khaleejtimes.com

MAPEI to address demand for hygienic PVC flooring adhesives and  other non-hazardous construction materials for healthcare facilities

June 22, 2010

Growing demand for investments into healthcare facilities and services is expected to transform the Middle East’s healthcare sector into a USD 60 billion industry by 2025. No other region in the world faces such a rapid growth in healthcare spending, and this growth is being considered by other industries such as construction and related supplies as an opportunity for expansion. 

MAPEI, a leading global manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and chemical products for buildings, aims to capitalize on the trend by highlighting its development of construction materials and products that have set industry benchmarks for safety and eco-friendliness. Its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring installation solutions have become popular for their compliance with stringent international health and safety standards. For example, MAPEI’s Ultrabond Eco VS90 is a multi-purpose, acrylic adhesive in water dispersion with a very low emission level of volatile organic compounds (VOC), for bonding vinyl, rubber floor coverings and is used for bonding PVC or vinyl sheets or tiles on to all kinds of internal, absorbent and moisture stable substrates, making it ideally suited for hospitals, schools, research laboratories. Another essential, yet often overlooked  component in the successful application and long term durability of PVC and other resilient flooring is of course self leveling underlayment compounds. M
APEI local produces the world renown Ultraplan range which can be applied in some cases up to 30mm in thickness where required. The Ultraplan range is available in different compressive and flexural grades in accordance with EN13813 along with low VOC primers of course such as the versatile Primer G. 

Recently ranked 25th among the 50 most influential construction suppliers in the GCC, MAPEI has committed to focusing on quality and safety as it aims to continue its expansion into the region compounded by a marked increase in manufacturing capacity.

“We adhere to the latest and highest international manufacturing standards as part of our emphasis on human health and safety. Many of our products have become the region’s top choices as they help ensure the physical welfare of building occupants and the creation of a healthy and safe indoor environment. We are looking more closely at how we can engineer our products to meet the specific needs of healthcare facilities, especially as the region is preparing to engage in more health-related investments,” said Laith Haboubi, Business Development Director, IBS-MAPEI.

MAPEI distributes its products through its UAE subsidiary, Innovative Building Solutions LLC, which manages a 40,000 sqm plot in addition to a commercial and technical training centre in Dubai.  MAPEI follows stringent international standards such as ISO 13007 for tile adhesives and grouts, EN13813 for screeds and self levelling compounds, and EN1504 for concrete repair materials. Several of its local products also bear GEV EMICODE certification for low or very low Volatile Organic Compound emissions. 

Founded in Milan, Italy in 1937, MAPEI started as a manufacturer of paints, plasters, and interior and exterior covering materials. It eventually focused on floor installation products and now comprises 63 subsidiaries with 56 production facilities. MAPEI has been involved in several major Gulf projects, such as the Armani hotel in Burj Khalifa, Qasr El Sarab resort, Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah, the Emirates Palace Hotel, Burj Al Arab, and Dubai International Airport’s Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

If you spend most of your time at a desk or sitting in meetings, you know that it takes a lot of work to maintain a healthy physique that you can be proud of. While exercising and sleeping are extremely important, there’s no denying that you are what you eat. A lot of research has been conducted regarding the diet plan in respect to one’s body, and we recently discovered that there are also plans depending on one’s blood type. A well-known concept “Blood Type Diet” is a plan based on the research conducted by Dr. Peter D’Adamo, and some of us at O2 have decided to give it a try. Maybe it will for you!

Type A should basically stick to fruits and vegetables (high carbs / low fat). They have thicker blood than other blood types, a sensitive immune system, and should not consume dairy products, animal fats and meats. They are at a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.

Type B should consume a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, grains, fish, dairy, meat. However, they should avoid chicken as much as possible. Type B have great chances of overcoming many types of diseases that include heart disease and cancer.

Type AB individuals should consume a mostly vegetarian diet, and only on rare occasions have fish, meat, and diary. Just like type B, they should not consume chicken.

Type O, which is the most common blood type among people, should basically stick to a high protein diet that includes red meat, low carbs, and enriched with fruits and vegetables. They should limit the intake of wheat germ, whole wheat products, corn, and avoid dairy products and most nuts. Type O types are commonly affected with hypothyroidism, high stomach acid that leads to ulcers, and thinner blood with greater resistance to blood clotting.

Choosing the right snacks for your office breaks is incredibly important to maintain a good work/life balance. If you don’t know your blood type, go to your local doctor and find out today! It could be the key to a healthier you…

Investment prospects emerge in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, insurance, medical education and in new areas such as e-health

March 16, 2010

Pharmaceutical and healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia is expected to increase from SAR 9.94 billion in 2008 to SAR 13.09 billion by 2013, driven by the growing healthcare demand of the country’s sizeable and relatively wealthy population. The positive growth trend reinforces the country’s reputation as a key stakeholder in the regional healthcare industry as Saudi’s drug market already accounts for a dominating 65 per cent of all pharmaceutical sales in the GCC.

Saudi Arabia’s pharmaceutical and medical device markets, in particular, are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12 per cent and 7 per cent respectively until 2012. This growth is influenced in part by aggressive government spending as SAR 61.2 billion has already been allocated for healthcare expenditure, representing a 17 per cent increase from 2009, for various large-scale projects including new primary centres all over the country and 92 new hospitals with a combined capacity of 17,150 beds.

The robust outlook of the country’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors is evident in the upcoming ‘Saudi Medicare 2010 – The 13th International Healthcare, Hospital Supplies and Medical Equipment Show’, which will be held from April 12 to 15, 2010 / Rabi Al-Tani 27 to Jumada al-Awwal 1 at the newly completed Riyadh International Exhibition Center. Saudi Medicare 2010 has registered a 30 per cent increase in exhibition area to accommodate a significant rise in exhibitors and trade visitors, including a growing number of corporate decision makers of healthcare multinationals and foreign investors.

Mohammed Al Hussaini, Deputy General Manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said: “Demand for pharmaceutical products as well as medical supplies and related services has picked up on account of the Saudi Government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s ability to provide world-class healthcare to its citizens and residents. The government has even increased healthcare expenditure this year to ensure that upgrade programs are implemented immediately. Global and regional companies have responded promptly as manifested by the significant increase in the number of exhibitors who are on the lookout for lucrative business and investment opportunities in the country.”

Saudi Medicare has further revealed that it expects 2010 to serve as a starting point of a new era of growth in the country’s healthcare industry with new business opportunities emerging in medical devices and supplies, generic pharmaceuticals, healthcare insurance and education. Saudi Medicare also noted a huge potential in the relatively new area of e-health, which has received a major boost with the government’s efforts to establish a national electronic record system for healthcare.

Saudi Medicare 2010 will be held in conjunction with the 4th Medical Devices Scientific Forum, which is organised under the supervision of the Medical Devices Sector at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Held under the auspices of General Department of Supplies at the Ministry of Health, the scientific forum will discuss various topical medical issues, including those related to medical devices technology, its management, and the challenges being faced in this field of expertise.

The exhibition and forum will likewise be held concurrently with ‘Saudi Eye Care 2010 and ‘Saudi Dentistry 2010.

New research report highlights opportunities and challenges for UAE medical tourism sector

Dubai, February 2, 2010: The rapidly developing healthcare sector in the United Arab Emirates faces challenges to its long-term sustainability due to the relatively high cost of medical provision in the country, according to Grant Thornton, one of the world’s leading independently owned accounting and consulting firms.

Competitor countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, have already established a strong reputation for quality, low-cost healthcare provision, and therefore have significant first-mover advantages compared to the UAE, according to “Transforming the Middle East’s healthcare model,” a recently published research report by Grant Thornton.

Following the conclusion of the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, which took place from January 25-28, 2010, Farouk Mohamed, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton UAE, highlighted the need for cost rationalisation in the country’s healthcare sector, pointing out that the average cost of heart bypass surgery in the UAE stood at US$44,000, compared with an average of US$18,500 in Singapore, US$11,000 in Thailand, US$10,000 in India and US$9,000 in Malaysia.

“While the cost of healthcare provision in the UAE compares very favourably with most Western markets,” said Mohamed, “the long-term development of the country’s medical tourism sector remains extremely price-dependent. That is especially true during a period of global economic instability and relatively low levels of consumer confidence, worldwide and here in the Middle East.”

Hisham Farouk, International Practice Partner, Grant Thornton UAE, highlighted that Singapore, for example, has stated that it aims to attract 1 million medical tourists a year by 2012, and that the UAE also has the opportunity and means to become an important regional medical tourism destination.

“The further development of the medical tourism sector in the UAE, although dependent upon more competitive costs, can provide the country with significant direct and indirect benefits,” said Farouk.

“There is no question that the existing infrastructure in the UAE, and especially in clusters such as Dubai Healthcare City, is already well developed,” he said. “There is every reason to believe that the ongoing development of this potentially high-growth area will further enhance the reputation of the UAE as a centre of medical excellence and a leading destination for medical care.”

“Transforming the Middle East’s healthcare model,” a Grant Thornton report, looks into future prospects for the healthcare sector in the Middle East, reviewing the key issues, providing insight into each of the main Middle East markets and identifying potential opportunities for private healthcare participants and investors.

Grant Thornton’s specialist advisers offer assurance, tax and business advisor services in every major trading centre in the world. The healthcare report is one of many documents published by Grant Thornton International, including international transparency reports, alternative investment market (AIM) reports and Middle East market guides. All reports are available to download from www.gtuae.net.

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