Medical projects worth Dh3.67bn under way in Dubai

Government healthcare projects worth Dh3.67 billion are going ahead in Dubai despite the economic slowdown.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) schemes include the Hatta Hospital, which is likely to be completed within two months, a rehabilitation centre for the elderly at Al Safa, Al Maktoum Hospital for Accidents and Emergencies, Al Jilal Children's Hospital and healthcare clinics.

Together they will increase the total number of hospital beds in Dubai by 650 over the next two years – and private sector projects will add another 500. "Implementation of these projects is going ahead on plan and they will meet the future medical needs of the emirate," said DHA Director Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid.

He said the Hatta Hospital will have 93 beds and a staff residential area, which will accommodate 400 doctors, administrators, nurses and technical staff.

"For certain categories of jobs preference will be given to residents of Hatta and the surrounding area," he added. "The hospital will have an emergency department, X-ray unit, dental section, outpatient clinic, pharmacy, intensive care unit (ICU) and a newborn and pediatric care department.

"The specialised geriatric rehabilitation centre in Al Safa will be operational by end-2010. The 7,000 sq m unit will be equipped with suites and a physiotherapy department, fitness area, prayer area and entertainment area."

Al Maktoum Hospital will cover 945,000 sq ft and have 300 beds when completed in February 2012. It will have high-tech facilities for surgery, accident and emergency treatment, radiology and training and development. There will be ICUs for men and women plus a separate unit for children, as well as operating rooms, critical care and day care sections, a pharmacy, medical laboratory, helipad, respiratory units and prayer room.

The 200-bed Al Jalaila Children's Hospital at Al Wasl Hospital will have terraces and gardens and is expected to be completed by the end-2011.

The dedicated paediatric hospital is the only project of its kind under way in the region and will cater to children from birth up to 14 years and in some cases up to 16 years. The four-floor hospital will be equipped with a non-natal ICU, dyalisis unit, heart centre, CICU, PICU, a cath lab, operating rooms, oncology centre, nephrology unit plus four medical surgery units, royal suites, accommodation facilities for parents and other facilities. The hospital will deal with all paediatric emergencies except accident cases.

Al Murooshid said private sector owned 57 per cent of Dubai's hospitals and 54 per cent of outpatient facilities.

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