UAE Ministry of Health announces establishment of joint venture with private sector in field of medical imaging services

DUBAI, 28th January, 2016 (WAM) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced the establishment of the first joint venture of its kind in the field of medical imaging between the public and private sectors in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi International Medical Services Company and GE Healthcare in Middle East and Turkey. The announcement of the project was made at a press conference yesterday on the sidelines of the Arab Health Congress and Exhibition 2016 in the presence of Awad Al Ketbi, Assistant Under-Secretary of the MoH for Support Services Sector, Dr. Yousef Al Serkal, Assistant Under-Secretary of the ministry's Hospitals Sector, Dr. Kulthoum Al Baloushi, Director of Hospitals Administration at the Ministry and Dr. Sheikh Saqr Al Mualla, Deputy Executive Director of Al Qasimi Hospital. Maher Abu Zeid, CEO of GE Healthcare, Amer Kakish, CEO of Ittihad International Investment LLC, the owner of the Abu Dhabi International Medical Services and Tamer Aqel, Director of Business Development at the company were also present. Under the deal, the MoH will outsource management of radiology service operations to 11 hospitals affiliated to the Abu Dhabi International Medical Services Company, while the GE Healthcare will provide specialised solutions and technologies. It is expected that this partnership will contribute to facilitating and accelerating access to quality medical services. In the framework of this programme, GE Healthcare and International Abu Dhabi Medical Services will operate the latest computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to ensure the provision of innovative services and technologies that enable doctors to diagnose cases with greater accuracy and speed. Commenting on the deal, Al Ketbi said the MoH sought to introduce the technical and digital medical innovations in implementation of the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to further develop the therapeutic services by modernising equipment and attracting the best talent to spare citizens the hardship of travelling abroad for access to high quality medical services. Abu Zeid said he was happy to work with the MoH, noting that the outsourcing of medical imaging solutions would revamp the healthcare system in the UAE. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395290820935.html