Federal Cross of Merit holder launches in Healthcare City
German Center for Neurology and Psychiatry (GNP) today opened its doors in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), with one of Germany's leading specialists heading up the centre, a first of its kind in the UAE.
Dr Arne Brosig, who was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit for outstanding work in the fields of neurology (brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles) and psychiatry (mind and mental disorders), explained the multi speciality clinic will bring some of the best expertise in the world to Dubai, reducing the need for future outward health tourism.
The centre, which is open six days a week, also brings the latest technology used to diagnose and treat life-threatening neurological and psychiatric conditions, ranging from schizophrenia to strokes. Leading-edge ultrasound is in place for all types of vascular related diseases, such as strokes, the second most common disease in the UAE according to the German-Arab Medical Association latest statistics. This technology helps early diagnosis, preventing problems escalating and enabling early treatment and higher success rates. The center will also boast the latest in EEG technology used to test for brain diseases such as headaches, tumours or epilepsy.
Dr Brosig said: "Our opening is sure to be a great relief for a large number of sufferers of neurological and psychiatric conditions in this region. The news that some of the best expertise and technology in these specialities will be based right here in Dubai has already been well received, with over 50 patients signing up before the center was even opened.
"It is estimated there are only around 30 doctors specialising in neurology in total throughout the emirates, with none also offering extensive expertise in psychiatry and psychotherapy.
"The need for Electroneurography, a service we will be offering using the best technology on the market, is particularly crucial for the UAE as diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the emirates. If you develop diabetes, you are at very high risk of encountering neurological diseases throughout your life.
"The world of neurology and psychiatry has achieved more progress and improvement over the past decades than any other area of medicine. Today professionals offer a wide range of modern diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for nearly all psychiatric and neurological disorders.
"Many prejudices and unnecessary fears are still prevalent in society when it comes to neurological deficits or mental illness. In the Middle East neurological and psychiatric medicine is still developing and will be very new to many people so it is even more important to educate the population about the associated disorders and warning signs.
"Illnesses of the brain, the psyche or neurological deficiencies are also very common and on the increase. Their patterns may sometimes be worrying or frightening but this is largely due to a huge lack of information provided to the general public.
"According to the study, The Global Burden of Disease, carried out by the World Health Organisation, depression is the most important disease of all, more important even than diseases of the heart, asthma or cancer. However, the majority of people suffering from depression does not seek professional help or are not treated to a sufficiently high standard.
"We should therefore not only strive to contribute to health education but also offer practical help and assistance to everyone suffering from or fearing psychiatric or neurological disorders."
Dr Brosig was approached in Germany over a year ago, due to his position as chairman of the German Professional Association for Psychiatry and Neurology and asked about the possibility of bringing a specialist centre to DHCC. GNP, which has been running in Germany since 1981, will provide the highest level of Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Neuropaediatric and Rehabilitation expertise to Dubai and service the entire Middle East, reducing the need for many cases to travel abroad for treatment.
Dr Brosig said: "We spent some time researching and visited hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to determine the need for the services we provide. We ascertained there was a big gap in the professional services in this area and the challenge of DHCC becoming a centre for the Middle East and raising the bar for quality standards was a huge attraction for us. The city is obviously thriving and the growth of its healthcare system is especially impressive, with Healthcare City embracing expertise from through the world to make it a centre for the Middle East and prevent so many health tourism dirhams leaving the country.
"When I arrived in Dubai airport there was a poster stating 'Welcome to the city that makes health its priority'. This is my ethos too. Health should be everyone's priority.
Early warning signs in this field can be very subtle, such as a numbness, prickling and pain, or speech difficulties, which may be temporary at the beginning and become more permanent. These can be symptoms of underlying neurological problems, which need to be checked out at the earliest opportunity."
Anyone wishing to arrange a consultation or check up can call +971 04 429 8578 or visit www.gnp-dubai.com
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Notes to Editors:
Since 1999 Dr Brosig has held the Federal Cross of Merit ribbon from the German Federal Government for his honorary engagement in Public Health.
Main topics of his professional work are psychiatric illnesses such as depression, stress, schizophrenia, sleeping disorders, headaches, dementia and neuroses. He also has vast experience with neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and vascular diseases.
For more information please contact:
Ian Hainey
Tel: +971 50 466 1368
Email ian.hainey@brandclinic.ae
© Press Release 2008
