Two top health industry leaders enter into cooperation agreement for Dubai Medical City
DUBAI: Further underlining Dubai's emerging stature in the region's multi-million dollar healthcare industry, two of the leading medical organizations in the Middle East have announced a landmark agreement to meet the growing demands for highly advanced medical facilities in the GCC.
Through the new groundbreaking agreement, the 135-year-old American University Hospital (AUH) Beirut and the Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Center will combine their strengths and resources, which will ultimately lead to the introduction of some of the most sophisticated medical technologies in the region and eliminate the need for GCC residents to travel abroad for expensive treatment.
Announcing this development at a press conference in Dubai yesterday, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib, Chairman of the Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Center, signed an agreement with Dr. Nadim Cortas, Vice-President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center at AUH.
Explaining that the alliance constituted a positive step for both entities, Dr. Cortas pointed out: "The American University Hospital and the Al-Habib Medical Center have signed a cooperation agreement that will be unmatched regionally in terms of its resources and its commitment to excellent medical care and research. We look forward to a mutually advantageous relationship that will ultimately benefit our patients."
One of the oldest and well-known medical institutions, the American University Hospital Beirut is reputed for its rich history and pioneering efforts in the region's medical sector. The AUB was established in 1876 - 135 years ago - and today has 420 beds. "Our services have improved and enlarged to incorporate the best medical technology and put us on par with the best hospitals of the world. The AUH has international standards and we look forward to provide those services across the region through this agreement," Dr. Cortas said.
He added that patients in the GCC would ultimately benefit from this partnership by having access to broad-based clinical expertise and treatment practices that have been approved by AUH. The agreement will take effect in the second quarter of 2005.
On the other hand, the Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Center's Dubai facility boasts of multi medical purposes with 120 new doctors and the capacity to attend to 800 patients daily. Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib said: "We expect a long-term relationship and we hope this will usher in the best medical practices and services to the region in line with our mission of providing the highest standards of medicare. Like all of our endeavors, the overriding goal of this new partnership is to enhance patient care. I'm pleased that our partners at AUH share our enthusiasm in this new venture."
Historically the AUH has compiled with the rules of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, an independent agency granting accreditation to the finest hospitals in the United States. By means of keen management and with the help of generous benefactors, the AUH has succeeded in keeping its technical facilities at the forefront of progress and in making constant improvements in the quality of care it provides.
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About the American University Hospital - Beirut:
Adjoining the American University of Beirut campus is the American University Hospital (AUH), which serves as a private non-for-profit 420-bed teaching institution, where medical, nursing and paramedical professionals are trained. As a hospital, it offers comprehensive healthcare services and extensive tertiary resources through its specialized care units. It is a main healthcare center for Lebanon that survived 17 years of civil war and yet continued to provide patients with the highest quality of care.
The AUH was established in 1867. Initially known as the Medical Department, the medical department started with few rooms in a rented building. In 1905 three pavilions to treat diseases of women and children opened. As the demands of modern medicine grew, expansion of the medical center was viewed as mandatory. Intensive planning combined with concentrated effort on funding began in 1959. On June 26, 1970 the new AUB Medical Center officially opened its door.
About the Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Center (HMC):
Established in April 1995, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Center (HMC) - a fully integrated multi-specialty health care facility built to the highest standards of medical design and well equipped with precise international level state-of-the-art technology, and is conveniently located in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Its medical team consists of an elite group of more than 150 consultants and specialists out of which 50 are American-trained & board certified & the rest are Europe-trained and board certified who are well experienced and highly qualified from world renowned medical universities. They are also accredited members of many internationally recognized medical societies and associations. HMC has experienced phenomenal since its inception and this attests to the excellent reputation created by our specially selected medical and support staff members. To know us better, please visit our website at www.hmc.com.sa, which highlights the varied spectrum of HMC's professional expertise.
For further information, please contact:
Edward D'Mello / Heba Hassan
Headline Public Relations
P.O. Box: 64349
Dubai
UAE
Tel: 9714 - 2289655
Fax: 9714 - 2282125
Email: edward@headlinepr.com
heba@headlinepr.com
© Press Release 2005
