A healthy outlook

To that extent, this city seems well on the path of social commitment, encouraging the establishment of hospitals and other medicare facilities in the private sector.

The Dubai Health Care City, one of the numerous free zones in the emirate to accelerate growth, is fast emerging as a major hub of healthcare activity. With numerous other private hospitals springing up to complement the government hospitals, Dubai is well on the path of emerging as the medicare destination in the region.

The Varkey Group has embarked on establishing a second hospital in Dubai Health Care City, after the Creek Hospital, with super-specialisation in cardiology and orthopaedics. The 7,800 beds available in both private and government hospitals in the emirate still falls short of the required bed rate, commensurate with the high annual growth rate of population pegged at six per cent now.

Government hospitals in the country, already busting at the seams and unable to cope up with the pressure, have already announced that minor surgeries would no longer come free. The answer lies in the private sector, which has the potential to cater to all levels of the population.

The day may not be far when people from the region would not have to look beyond Dubai, for quality and affordable medicare, and competition holds the key for this.