22 August 2008

United Arab Emirates aims to become a hub for Medical Tourism

A special department has been created within the ministry to focus solely on developing the medical tourism sector in this Gulf nation.

Nasser Khalifa al Budoor, from international relations and health affairs within the Health Ministry says "We'll be ready to start receiving patients with their families, whether for plastic surgery, knee replacements or cardiovascular treatment. We have so many hospitals, with Johns Hopkins, Harvard, some of the biggest names in the world are here doing work".

Stating that the Middle East could never have been considered for medical tourism earlier, he said the situation has changed dramatically in the UAE.

"People would go to London for shopping with their families and receive a check up or undergo a small operation. Now Dubai is ready for this," he said.

"We have so much to offer now, with certified hospitals from international agencies."

Global medical tourism is now worth over $50 billion annually.

A Report By The Mole

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