Healthcare important in attracting visitors to Dubai

Dubai - Because of age dynamics, there is likely to be an increased focus on caring for elderly patients in the coming years.

Dubai is perfectly suited for medical tourism and is well on its way of achieving its goals of attracting more than a half million such tourists by 2020 according to Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare.
Speaking on the sidelines of Arab Health in Dubai, Dr Moopen said Dubai "has a significant advantage" in attracting people for a variety of reasons, among them healthcare.
"We know a lot of people come here for holidays. Now, a lot more are coming in because of the theme parks. It's very well connected with a safe and liberal environment.
"Dubai traditionally is a good centre for anybody to come, and we can now add healthcare to that," he added. "I think there is huge potential for people from the Middle East, or even the subcontinent. They are comfortable here, can utilise the infrastructure ... so what we require are good medical facilities." Dr Moopen said Aster DM Healthcare is already getting a "significant" number of patients from abroad.
"This is a great opportunity. We (Dubai) should not just be focusing on patients in the UAE or even the GCC. We must be looking at Africa, for example. By 2021, Dubai health officials expect a massive influx of 1.3 million medical tourists to arrive in the emirate, as part of the Dubai Health Experience launched in April 2016 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.
Looking to the future, Dr Moopen said because of age dynamics there will likely be an increased focus on caring for elderly patients in the coming years.
"Geriatrics is an area people should be looking at, certainly," he added. "Also, due to our lifestyle, there are many diseases that are on the increase, such as diabetes."
Even with more healthcare facilities becoming available in the UAE and the region, Dr Moopen said there will still "be more healthcare requirements."
bernd@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai