Aster DM Healthcare’s founder and chairman Dr Azad Moopen has called for the introduction of more medical training facilities in the UAE and GCC countries to reduce the region’s reliance on expats.
Scores of Emirati medical students travel overseas each year to undertake medical degrees.
But the rampant growth of the healthcare sector in the UAE will demand more home-grown training said the Aster chairman.
Dr Moopen, whose Dubai-based company employs more than 1,000 doctors in a healthcare group with 15,000 staff, said: “One of the greatest challenges in healthcare is to get quality people.”
Speaking on the sidelines of a company event launching seven new clinics in the run-up to National Day on Wednesday, Dr Moopen said: “We have to invest in the GCC for medical education and research – more importantly education.
“We have to start more medical colleges, more nursing colleges and more colleges where locals can be trained. Now we are dependent on expats. As we go forwards, it’s an opportunity for getting better jobs as well as a requirement that systems have to be run by people here.”
Aster Medical currently operates 290 healthcare institutions including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and medical centres in the Middle East and India.
Dr Moopen founded Aster DM Healthcare in 1987 when he opened his first outlet, Al Rafa Polyclinic, in Dubai.
The group now has 290 hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies, clinics and other outlets.
It generated revenue of $600m last year – 70 to 80 per cent of which came from the GCC, with the remainder coming from operations in India.
The company already operates one medical college in India with a capacity of 450 students, and Dr Moopen is now setting up a training facility in the UAE. “We have already initiated some activities and we are looking at starting a medical college and a nursing college here – if there is an opportunity,” he said.
“There is a requirement, definitely,” he said, citing the roll-out of mandatory health insurance laws in Dubai, which he expects to spiral into the Northern Emirates.
Dr Moopen also said that Aster DM’s plans to float the company on a stock exchange, initially announced in 2014, remained “on the cards”. He said: “We’re now in the process of deciding where to do that – the Dubai market, London or India. We want to do it within one year.”
Of the seven new clinics that it is opening, six are in Dubai at Abu Hail, Al Khail, Arabian Ranches, Business Bay and Dubai Marina, as well as a specialist centre for orthopaedics and physiotherapy in Al Qusais. The seventh is being opened at Al Khalidiya in Abu Dhabi. They were inaugurated at a ceremony attended by the UAE’s Minister of Social Affairs, Maryam Al Roumi.
According to Alpen Capital, the healthcare market across the GCC countries is projected to grow at 12 per cent a year to reach $69.4 billion by 2018.
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Marathon results
Men:
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2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
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Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
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Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
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11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
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Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Celta Vigo 2
Castro (45'), Aspas (82')
Barcelona 2
Dembele (36'), Alcacer (64')
Red card: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
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Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
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A State of Passion
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')
Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
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Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
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Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
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