Is Dubai The Next Healthcare Destination For Kenyans?
A report published by the Kenya Healthcare sector in 2016, indicated that more than 10,000 Kenyans travel abroad to seek healthcare services annually. This number is expected to have risen significantly since then. Patients seeking cancer-related healthcare services make up more than 50 per cent of Kenyans seeking medical treatment overseas.
Launched in 2002 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Health Care City (DHCC) is the world’s largest healthcare free zone.
The healthcare free zone is governed by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) and regulated Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulation (DHCR), whose quality standards are accredited by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua).
The DHCC ecosystem operates through strategic partnerships where it hosts more than 400 facilities boasting of both global and regional names. The ecosystem includes more than 170 clinical facilities and 250 non-clinical facilities. The facilities offer a wide array of services in healthcare, medical education and research, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and wellness.
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DHCC has witnessed an increase in both in and outpatient numbers as shown in the figure below. These numbers are likely to increase in the coming years if the trend seen so far is anything to go by.
DHCC Phases
DHCC was launched in two main phases
Phase 1 is dedicated to healthcare and medical education. Its anchor project is the prestigious Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences. In partnership with the Queen’s University Belfast, UK, it has two colleges: Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine and College of Medicine.
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Phase 2 which was launched in 2015 is currently under development. It touts itself as an urban wellness community that promotes healthy living and welcomes innovative concepts in healthcare and wellness from around the world.
Factors making Dubai a suitable destination (put this as a subtitle )
- Access to temporary health care insurance. Temporary health care insurance is available to foreigners seeking healthcare in DHCC
- Use of Artificial Intelligence technology to provide better care.
- Ease of processing a visa compared to other countries
- No waiting lists and bed space availability
- Access to care from world-class professionals
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