Dubai, UAE, June 10, 2007: The Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), the leading medical service provider in the region, and Emaar Healthcare Group (EHG), the wholly owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians, two prestigious global healthcare institutions, to work together for setting up an advanced Diabetes Center in Dubai.
Mr Qadhi Al Murooshid, Director General, DOHMS, and Mr Omar Al Shunnar, Executive Director, EHG, signed the MoU with Ms Judith Goodwin, Director, Affiliated Programs, on behalf of Mr Ranch C. Kimball, President and CEO, Joslin Diabetes Center and Dr Mark Zeidel, the Herrman L. Blumgart Professor and Chair of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians.
Upon signing of the final contract, the two organizations will share their globally acclaimed best practices, especially in the field of diabetes, a pressing medical concern in the Gulf region, to EHG and DOHMS.
EHG had recently also formed a public-private partnership with DOHMS to open world-class medical facilities. The advanced Diabetes Medical Centre is a key component of this partnership.
Mr Al Murooshid said: “The partnership of DOHMS and EHG with Joslin and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians will further strengthen our combined efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the region. The core competencies of these international organisations will help us to tackle disease conditions such as diabetes, which can be managed effectively through timely intervention and awareness. Our focus on diabetes, therefore, is the need of the hour.”
“According to the latest research carried out by specialists in the UAE as part of a project sponsored by the World Health Organisation, more than a quarter of UAE nationals suffer from diabetes, with 40 per cent over the age of 60 years having the disease. It is also estimated that diabetes affects more than 20 per cent of the adult population in the UAE - four times more prevalent than worldwide figures,” said Mr Al Murooshid.
Mr Al Shunnar said: “This MoU reiterates the founding mission of EHG and commitment to the community to enhance the quality of life by ensuring that integrated healthcare services of international standards are accessible to the people. The two organisations will devote their research capabilities on disease conditions such as diabetes, described as a silent killer, on which Joslin and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians have made path-breaking research.”
He added: “The Central Statistics Department of the Ministry of Health reports that mortality due of diabetes mellitus constitutes 75 per cent of the deaths among UAE nationals and 31 per cent among non-nationals. This calls for effective public-private partnerships, which is another founding objective of EHG.”
Since its founding in 1898, Joslin Diabetes Center has constantly evolved to meet the ever-changing challenges of diabetes. Today, Joslin is the world’s largest diabetes center and is on the frontline of the world epidemic of diabetes, leading the battle to conquer the disease through cutting-edge research and innovative approaches to clinical care and education.
Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians works to establish a common resource base for academic, clinical and research missions. The Deaconess Hospital and the Deaconess Physicians, the predecessors of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians, have been supporting the efforts of Joslin’s founder, Dr Elliott P. Joslin since 1898. Today, Joslin is a world leader in identification and prevention of the complications of diabetes, which include heart disease and stroke, diabetic retinopathy, kidney disease, neuropathy and amputations.
“Diabetes is growing at epidemic proportions in the Middle East, and there are too few endocrinologists and trained healthcare professionals to care for the patients. This pressing need for advanced diabetes care in the Middle East drives our intent to participate in establishing an advanced diabetes center in Dubai,” said Ms Goodwin. “Our goal is to deliver our model of patient care, which is based on patient empowerment and the aggressive identification and prevention of complications, across the region.”
Dr Zeidel added: “Proactive healthcare strategies are essential to tackle growing healthcare concerns including diabetes, obesity and cardiac problems that are on the rise in the region. This partnership will serve as a platform for disseminating global research and medical advancements to a larger population.”
With a capital outlay of AED 18.35 billion (US$5 billion), Emaar Healthcare plans to develop and manage over 100 hospitals, clinics and medical centres in the MENA region, the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia in the next ten years. Apart from strategic partnerships, Emaar will also integrate advanced medical infrastructure in all key centers to ensure the delivery of quality medical care.
