DUBAI // Dubai’s health sector is set to continue its growth with four new hospitals planned and others to be expanded.
The Dubai Health Authority announced that the emirate is due to have four newly built facilities. Three others are in line for expansion to add to the current crop of 26 hospitals available to patients.
In total, there are 2,833 health facilities in Dubai alone, of which 22 are internationally accredited. Four more existing hospitals are also expected to receive international recognition.
New hospitals will be built where they are needed most, said Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, director of health regulation at the DHA, although further details of where they will be have not yet been released.
“Careful planning has taken place in order to ensure that the hospitals and healthcare facilities are adding to the health services of Dubai, to prevent under-utilisation or over-utilsation of health facilities and to ensure newer facilities are built in geographical areas of need to improve access,” she said.
“The DHA’s health regulation department works closely with investors to understand their needs, to explain the healthcare needs of the emirate and to assist them with processes.
“Investors can be assured of the best return on their investment, and this also ensures people have access to a variety of health services.”
This year, UAE provider Anglo Arabian Healthcare warned that an oversupply of services could force some private hospitals into financial difficulty, with a supply of beds set to outstrip demand by 600,000 a year by 2021 at the current rate of growth.
By 2021 there is expected to be demand for 800,000 beds a year, but a supply of 1.4 million when all projects being developed are complete.
“Providers and payers suffer from an oversupply, with health care likely to continue to go up in price,” said Mark Adams, chief executive of the company,
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