The health care sector faces a rapidly evolving in the United Arab Emirates numerous challenges in terms of sustainability over the long term because of the relatively high cost of health care in the state, according to the company, “Grant Thornton”, one of the accounting firms and a leading independent consultancy in the world.

Countries have been able to compete, especially in Southeast Asia, to establish a good reputation in the field of quality and low cost of health care delivery, and thus has become of these countries has important advantages compared to the UAE, according to the report of the research “Development of health-care model in the Middle East”, published by Grant Thornton recently.

Following the conclusion of “exhibition and conference, Arab Health,” held on 25-28 January 2010, Farouk Muhammad, Executive Partner Grant Thornton, the UAE, the need to rationalize costs in health care sector in the country, pointing out that the average cost of an operation to change the carotid artery in the UAE amounted to U.S. $ 44 thousand, compared to an average of U.S. $ 18500 in Singapore, and 11 thousand dollars in Thailand, and 10 thousand U.S. dollars in India, and U.S. $ 9 thousand in Malaysia.

He said: “In the time that the cost of providing health care in the UAE looks good compared to most Western markets; the long-term development of medical tourism in the state still depends largely on the price. This applies in particular during a period of global economic instability and relatively low levels of consumer confidence in all parts of the world and here in the Middle East. “

The Hesham Farouk, a partner of international relations at Grant Thornton, UAE, Singapore, for example, announced that it aims to attract one million people for medical tourism annually by 2012, and the UAE also has the opportunity and means to become an important regional destination for medical tourism.

“Farouk said:” The development and spur medical tourism in the UAE, although this depends on the definition costs more competitive, which could provide the country with the benefits and advantages of the direct and indirect costs. “

He added: “There is no doubt that the current infrastructure in the UAE, especially in communities such as Dubai Healthcare City, is already developed. Certainly, the continued development of this sector will contribute to enhance the reputation of the UAE as a center of medical excellence and a leading destination for health care.”

The report of “the development of health-care model in the Middle East,” the outlook for the health care sector in the Middle East, where he reviews important issues, and sheds light on one of the major markets in the Middle East, and identifies opportunities available to investors and workers in the field of health care.

The consultants “Grant Thornton” specialists, advisory services in the areas of accounting and auditing, tax and business in every major commercial center in the world. The report of the health care and one of the numerous documents published by Grant Thornton International, including the reports of Transparency International, the Alternative Investment Market (IM), and guide financial markets in the Middle East.

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Development of health-care, exhibition and conference, Grant Thornton, health care delivery, The health care sector, the United Arab Emirates