UAE healthcare firm reveals major push into Saudi Arabia

Date Posted: 10/9/2017

NMC Health, the UAE-based healthcare operator, has announced that it has received all regulatory approvals for new medical facilities in Saudi Arabia as part of a major expansion into the Gulf kingdom.

The Chronic Care Specialty Medical Centre (CCSMC) in Jeddah is believed to be one of the first greenfield medical facilities in Saudi Arabia to be established by a non-Saudi company.

The 220-bed long-term care facility will launch operations with 50 beds with a phased ramp up planned so the hospital will be at full capacity during the first half of 2019.

Prasanth Manghat, CEO of NMC Health, said: “As one of the first foreign entrants into the Saudi healthcare sector, we have learned a great deal over the past year and intend to use this knowledge to better navigate the Saudi regulatory landscape moving forward.

“With a total licensed capacity now at about 700 beds, we see the kingdom as an important part of NMC’s growth strategy and will continue to identify areas in which we can fill gaps in the country’s healthcare offerings.”

NMC Health said it has adopted a three-pronged strategy to pursue its expansion plans in Saudi Arabia which includes offering specialised services such as long-term care, home health and fertility in larger cities.

NMC’s expansion plan comes after it reached agreements to acquire a multi-specialty hospital in each of the northwestern and southern regions of Saudi Arabia for an aggregate consideration of $40 million.

In addition, it intends to establish a multi-speciality facility in Al Khobar.

Published Date: September 25, 2017
Source: Arabian Business