BAHRAIN AND KUWAIT
The recent troubles that engulfed the states of Bahrain and Kuwait have resulted in the local authorities realising that they have to spend money on basic infrastructure including healthcare to ease the demands of the population. This coupled with the spread of lifestyle diseases and
government initiatives to promote private sector investment, will result in the growth of the healthcare infrastructure.
Kuwait has set aside around KD 73 billion (US$ 127 billion) to spend on hospital projects in the next four years, according to a Middle East healthcare expert. The project plans are reportedly due to an increase in Type 2 diabetes and obesity across the GCC and a rise in demand for beds, as well as a growing desire to bring healthcare tourism to the region.
SAUDI ARABIA In Saudi Arabia’s latest five year
Development Plan (2009-2014), social development and healthcare is poised to
command a 19% share of total budgeted expenditure, equivalent to SR273.9 billion (US$ 73 billion). Financial allocation for the healthcare segment alone commands 89% of this total, corresponding to SR242.7 billion (US$ 64.7 billion). Additionally, approved by the MoH health projects for 2011 include Kingdom-wide developments of more than 3,500 beds in hospitals of various disciplines. Health is one of the key sectors identified in the
government’s privatization program. Therefore, as the MoH focuses on restructuring its activities as a
regulator of private services and gradually moves away as a main provider, more private players are expected to emerge.
UAE There is currently a high demand in
Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the rest of the UAE for specialty services, such as women’s facilities,
oncology services, and paediatric hospitals. The reason for this demand is the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases among nationals and residents of the UAE. According to reports,
the UAE already spends DHS 2.4 billion (US$ 0.65 billion) on medical costs related to diabetes. It is predicted that this figure will rise 58% to DHS 3.82 billion (US$ 1 billion) by 2020. Additionally, a report by
Ithmar Capital and Dow Jones Private Equity suggests that the UAE will need 15,698 new hospital beds by 2050. This projection will again be a huge incentive for private investment in the healthcare sector, with the
construction of multi-disciplinary hospitals to help shoulder the burden of this projection with government spending. Also, government initiatives enforcing private health insurance on all residents and nationals of Abu Dhabi, has resulted in an increased demand for private
healthcare. This is a trend, which will be followed by the whole of the UAE and will increase demand for more advanced healthcare and private facilities, thus opening up opportunities for investing within the healthcare infrastructure of the UAE.
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