A high-level delegation headed by His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), recently visited India on an official tour. The delegation visited several esteemed healthcare hospitals and institutions in Kerala, Bangalore and Mumbai to explore opportunities to collaborate in the healthcare sector.
The UAE and India’s partnership dates back centuries and the visit aimed to explore and boost collaboration opportunities in specialised fields of healthcare.
Al Qutami said: “In line with the vision of the leadership of Dubai, our aim is to collaborate with leading institutions in the world in the health sector to provide high-quality care to our patients and visitors. This visit will help foster new partnerships with leading healthcare organisations and we are keen to share experiences and expertise with the aim to further bolster the health sector in Dubai and provide world-class patient centred care.”
The areas of collaboration include medical research, cancer care, cardiology, organ transplant, health innovation, mental health services and geriatric services.
The delegation began its visit of health facilities in India in Kochi, Kerala. They visited the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center. Al Qutami was received by Dr. Rajesh Pai, Medical Superintendent, Dr. Vishal Marwaha Principal, Amrita Medical College and Dr. Sudheer OV, Head of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary and transplant surgeries.
Al Qutami said the aim of the visit was to explore collaboration opportunities as well as exchange knowledge and expertise. The two sides discussed collaboration and knowledge transfer particularly in the field of specific expertise such as robotic donor hepatectomy for liver transplantation and organ transplant surgeries for hand, pancreas, heart, liver and kidney transplant. They also discussed collaboration opportunities in the field of medical research and medical education.
The delegation also visited Aster Medcity in Kochi. Al Qutami was received by Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare.
The Director General was provided an overview of Aster Medcity, which is a 670-bed JCI and NABH accredited quaternary care facility with one Multispeciality Hospital and 10 dedicated Centres of Excellence.
Dr. Moopen said: “We started our journey in the UAE three decades ago and it is with great pride that we welcome His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami to our highly specialised facility in India. Inspired by the UAE and its leaders, we continuously work towards pushing the boundaries of excellence in healthcare and setting global benchmarks in the field of medicine and patient care across all our facilities. We look forward to working towards achieving the nation’s vision, together.”
Doctors at the hospital highlighted the functioning of the dialysis centre as well as organ transplant facilities including kidney and liver transplant facilities. They also highlighted their Robot assisted transplant services and said almost 50 per cent of transplant surgeries are now done using robot assisted technology.
The delegation also visited the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in Kerala where Al Qutami was received by Dr. Saji Gopinath, CEO of KSUM. The two sides discussed collaboration in cancer research, innovation and joint incubation and acceleration programmes to promote start-ups in healthcare.
While Al Qutami provided an overview of the Dubai healthcare ecosystem particularly in the field of innovation and technology. He highlighted the role of the Dubai Future Accelerators initiative to drive technology and innovation and the DHA Innovation Centre.
The KSUM is an initiative by the Government of Kerala designed to provide entrepreneurs all the support to make technology-based business ventures successful. The KSUM technology innovation zone campus hosts the first and so far, the only incubator for cancer research in India. The Cancer Incubator is supported by Melinda and Gates Foundation and has an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Illinois University.
MoU with Apollo Hospitals Group India
During the visit, Apollo Hospitals Group signed a MoU with DHA at the Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai facility. Al Qutami and Santosh Marathe, COO Apollo Hospitals, signed the agreement.
Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group reiterated the commitment of Afro-Asia’s largest integrated healthcare provider to associate with the DHA on clinical, academic and preventive healthcare. The two sides will also explore collaboration opportunities in the field of healthcare technology.
Al Qutami appreciated the efforts of Apollo Hospitals Group and stated that the DHA values such partnerships and clinical collaboration.
Speaking to the visiting delegates, Dr. Prathap C Reddy complimented the immense progress made by Dubai and UAE as a country and expressed his appreciation for the DHA for all its achievements. He also stated that such collaborations are the need of the hour considering the ever-changing non-communicable disease burden the world is facing today.
The ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency Mohammed Saleh Ahmed Al Jalah Al Taneji, Consul General of UAE in Mumbai, Dr. Younis Kazim, CEO Dubai Healthcare Corporation and a senior delegation from DHA. Jithu Jose, Vice President- International Division and Shubhra Singhal, UAE Representative of Apollo Hospitals, represented Apollo Hospitals.
Multiorgan Transplant and Reproductive Sciences Division Inaugurated at SSNMC Hospital
In Bangalore, the delegation visited the BR Life SSNMC Hospital at Raja Rajeshwari Nagar. It was received by Dr. B R Shetty, Chairman, BRS Ventures, Binay Shetty, Vice Chairman and Group CEO, BRS Ventures and Col. Hemraj Singh Parmar, Group CEO, BR Life.
Al Qutami inaugurated the two latest super specialty departments of Multiorgan Transplant Sciences and Andrology cum Reproductive Sciences at the hospital during his visit. The delegation was provided an overview of the super speciality services in the hospital including Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Ortho Sciences, GI Sciences and Oncosciences.
Dr. B R Shetty said: “This visit from the DHA to explore a collaborative medical exchange programme is a proud moment for all of us at BR Life. We are keen to enhance healthcare collaboration between India and UAE. With highly skilled doctors and clinical expertise, we look forward to a long-standing relationship with Dubai Health Authority wherein we work closely with each other to create a unique value proposition.”
