Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and United Eastern Medical Services sign Cooperation Agreement to explore opportunities to deliver ophthalmology services in Abu Dhabi

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields), the first overseas branch of the world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital London, and United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical), Abu Dhabi’s leading privately owned healthcare development and investment company, have signed today a Cooperation Agreement through which the two organisations will jointly explore the potential opportunities to develop ophthalmological clinical services in Abu Dhabi.

Moorfields already has a successful, purpose-built hospital in Dubai, which has been operating for six years and treated more than 27,000 patients. UEMedical owns and operates a network of specialty centers and family clinics across Abu Dhabi under its ‘HealthPlus’ brand, and is soon to open the first specialized Women and Children’s Hospital (Danat Al Emarat) in Abu Dhabi.

Commenting on the Agreement, Mariano Gonzalez, Managing Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, stated that the Board of Directors of Moorfields in the UK is keen to explore the Abu Dhabi market, “Abu Dhabi is an important part of our expansion strategy for the UAE. Moorfields Dubai will remain our lead centre of excellence in the UAE and we recently announced an MOU with Dubai Healthcare City to expand our research and teaching activities there, which are important elements of our overall mission. The last six years in Dubai have proven to be very successful and we aim to build on this firm foundation and replicate the success in Abu Dhabi for the benefit of the community there. We have been treating patients in Abu Dhabi and believe we can provide a new option to provide the complete range of clinical services delivered locally, to the global standards set by Moorfields. We would hope to begin operations in Abu Dhabi in some form, during 2014.”

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr. Mohamad Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, CEO & Managing Director of UEMedical and Chairman of HealthPlus, said, “We are excited to be collaborating with one of the world’s leading institutes – Moorfields Eye Hospital London, and to explore the opportunity of establishing and operating an Eye Hospital under the Moorfields brand in the Capital of the UAE.” Mr. Al Shorafa added, “We will examine the clinical services best suited for our market that would be consistent with the high standards, procedures and outstanding clinical outcomes for which Moorfields is known worldwide. Such an agreement represents another step for UEMedical in the realization of the UAE leaders’ vision to provide the people of the UAE with the best healthcare facilities comparable to international standards.”

Mr. Majd Abu Zant, CEO of HealthPlus also stated, “We are pleased to announce that a team of Consultants from Moorfields Eye Hospital are now leading the Ophthalmology Department in our recently inaugurated HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi. Through this partnership, Moorfields doctors will work collaboratively with our multidisciplinary team to deliver comprehensive care for adults and children with diabetes.” Mr Abu Zant further commented, “In addition to treating patients with diabetes, Moorfields doctors will also provide much needed Glaucoma, Pediatric and Aviation Ophthalmology services at the HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi.”

About Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (MEHD) is the first overseas branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the oldest and one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world. Located at the Al Razi Medical Complex in Dubai Health Care City, the facility provides day case surgery and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services, for a variety of surgical and non-surgical eye conditions. MEHD will also raise standards for research and teaching in the region. MEHD is owned and managed by the NHS Foundation Trust, and maintains close links with London, to ensure that patients in the GCC receive the best eye care treatment in the world.

About UEMedical 

United Eastern Medical (UEMedical) was formed in 2005 with the aim of raising the standard of healthcare service delivery and has since become Abu Dhabi’s leading privately owned Healthcare Development and Investment Company. UEMedical possesses the breadth of experience, the network of expertise and the financial backing to assume a prominent role in a complex and challenging healthcare environment, aiming to differentiate themselves on the basis of medical excellence, innovation and an unparalleled level of customer service. UEMedical will develop and manage an integrated healthcare delivery system that comprises world-class specialty hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout the UAE. Its portfolio of projects is coming together to leverage the combined talent and resources of a world class hospital, 6 specialty centers and 14 family clinics to create an integrated healthcare delivery system across Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Along with its well-established network of outpatient specialty and family health canter branded as HealthPlus, UEMedical will see the opening of the 250-bed Danat Al Emarat Women & Children’s Hospital in Abu Dhabi City (2014). By partnering with a number of internationally renowned healthcare providers, UEMedical also ensures that international standards in patient care delivery and best practices are put in place. For more information, please visit www.uems.ae

Media contacts:

Jon Walsh
WPR Limited
Dubai
M: 00971 50 4588610
E: jon@wprme.com
Issued on behalf of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai by WPR.

Rania Akkela
Marketing & Communications Manager, UEMedical
M: 00971 56 6780665
T: 00971 2 6266805
F: 00971 2 6266897
E: rania.akkela@uems.ae