by
Asma Ali Zain ,
www.zawya.com |
2010-02-07
The rapidly developing healthcare sector in the UAE faces challenges to its long-term sustainability due to the relatively high cost of medical provision, according to a recent report.
Competitor countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, have already established a strong reputation for quality, low-cost healthcare provision, and therefore have significant first-mover advantages compared to the UAE, according to "Transforming the Middle East's healthcare model," a recently published research report by Grant Thornton.
Commenting on the report, Farouk Mohamed, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton UAE, highlighted the need for cost rationalisation in the country's healthcare sector, pointing out that the average cost of a heart bypass surgery in the UAE stood at $44,000, compared with an average of $18,500 in Singapore, $11,000 in Thailand, $10,000 in India and $9,000 in Malaysia.
"While the cost of healthcare provision in the UAE compares very favourably with most Western markets," said Mohamed, "the long-term development of the country's medical tourism sector remains extremely price-dependent. That is especially true during a period of global economic instability and relatively low levels of consumer confidence, worldwide and here in the Middle East."
According to Dr Prem Jagyasi, a renowned healthcare consultant, high quality healthcare services with affordability are not a privilege, but the right of the people. "Healthcare should be affordable for every person," he adds.
|
Healthcare Costs in UAE, Medical Treatment in UAE, Cost of Medical Treatment in Thailand, Medical Treatment in Singapore, Medical Treatment in India, High Quality Health care Services in UAE, Medical Care in UAE, Heart Clinic in UAE |
|