ParkwayHealth has signed an agreement with United Eastern Medical Services (UEM) which is developing the US$200 million Danat Al Emarat Women and Children's Hospital. -- PHOTO: BH
HOSPITAL operator ParkwayHealth - part of Parkway Holdings - is making its first foray into the Middle East with a deal to manage a hospital being built in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
ParkwayHealth has signed an agreement with United Eastern Medical Services (UEM) which is developing the US$200 million Danat Al Emarat Women and Children's Hospital.
The Singapore company will provide clinical development and hospital management services.
Parkway Holdings' chief executive Dr Lim Cheok Peng said: 'We are pleased and honoured that we have been selected to manage this exciting new project.
'The Middle Eastern market is expected to experience strong growth in the coming years and Danat Al Emarat will be a key milestone in ParkwayHealth's vision to be the global leader in value-based integrated healthcare,' he said.
Dr Lim declined to disclose how much the contract was worth, but said that the firm was 'happy to receive that amount'.
UEM chief executive Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa said: 'For many years now, thousands of patients have travelled to Singapore from the UAE seeking the most advanced medical technologies and expertise.
'We have selected ParkwayHealth to manage Danat Al Emarat for their international prominence in delivering quality clinical outcomes especially within women's and children's health.'
The Danat Al Emarat, which is Arabic for 'Pearl of the Emirates', is slated to be completed by late 2011 or early 2012. It will have 170 beds when it opens, with a total capacity of up to 300 beds.
The hospital is expected to oversee the delivery of more than 8,000 babies each year. It will feature facilities such as a spa and wellness centre, a 100-seat auditorium and private classrooms for parenting classes.
Two senior management staff from ParkwayHealth will be seconded to fill roles of chief executive officer and director of nursing, but it has not been confirmed who they will be. Any further staff additions will also decided later.
Dr Lim said: 'In order to ensure adoption of international standards and best practices, there will be a high degree of interaction and exchange between Danat Al Emarat and ParkwayHealth.
'This will drive continuous development of clinical programmes and quality improvement initiatives, and will be implemented through regularly visiting teams of experts who will assess and recommend plans to improve clinical services, mentor junior staff and consult on and treat complex cases.'
