Dr. Muhadditha Al-Hashimi, Chief Executive Officer of DHCC, with Dr. Robert L. Thurer, Chief Academic Officer of HMSDC, at the Arab Health exhibition.

Dubai Healthcare City moves into second phase of development

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) has progressed into the second phase of its long-term development, which will include the creation of wellness and clinical spa facilities, hospitals, healthy living residential units, and other clinical centers and cover approximately 20 million square feet. The ambitious new plans were unveiled in January at the annual Arab Health exhibition held in Dubai, where a palpable buzz surrounded an impressive model showing DHCC’s future expansion along the shores of the Dubai Creek.

The first phase, which is more than halfway completed, consisted of the development of clinical and retail facilities over a 4.1 million square feet area near the creek park in Dubai. This community has grown rapidly to include nearly 20 clinical services providers who are licensed by DHCC to ensure that the services offered in the medical complex meet international standards for quality. These providers include specialists in cardiology, vascular medicine, nephrology, ophthalmology, family medicine, plastic surgery, and dentistry, as well as a number of multispecialty clinics. By the end of 2006, more than 130 health care professionals were practicing in DHCC, and the community had recorded more than 30,000 outpatient visits.

A model showing the planned expansion of Dubai Healthcare City

Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2010, and will include, among other facilities, the new home of the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center (HMSDC) Institute for Postgraduate Education & Research.

Ahmad Sharaf, Senior Vice President for Energy and Healthcare at Tatweer, said that the Phase 2 expansion is designed to “provide a complete suite of well-being and integrated services to complement the facilities for acute care made available in DHCC’s initial phase of development.”

The new phase will encompass three distinct areas: an expansion of the medical facilities of phase one; a residential complex to accommodate DHCC employees as well as patients and their families; and an integrated spa facility that will combine conventional medicines with complementary and alternative medicines. When complete, DHCC will be able to offer seamless disease prevention, management, and treatment programs, as well as state-of-the-art accommodations, all in a single general locale.

DHCC’s significant investment in wellness services is key to Dubai becoming a health destination for families in the Middle East, not merely a regional center for life-saving interventions. “Preventative medicine—along with high-quality education, life sciences research, and comprehensive acute and chronic care services—is at the core of a robust and sustainable health care system,” said Dr. Muhadditha Al-Hashimi, Chief Executive Officer of DHCC. “We want DHCC to attract people who are taking a proactive approach to their own health, through disease screening and regular check-ups.”

Complementary and alternative medicine services at DHCC—like all areas of practice within the DHCC complex—will be closely regulated according to standards and guidelines established by the governance councils developed by DHCC in collaboration with Harvard Medical International (HMI) and monitored by the Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality.

HMI continues to play a major role in the development of DHCC. HMI and DHCC created and jointly oversee a central infrastructure for standards development, clinical planning, licensing, and quality management and performance improvement. This includes key governance entities represented by leaders at both HMI and DHCC such as the DHCC Standards Council, DHCC Planning Council, and DHCC Quality Council. These groups, together with the DHCC Licensing Board, are responsible for licensing providers and operators to practice at DHCC, ensuring an appropriate clinical services mix, and providing regulatory oversight for all individuals and organizations operating at DHCC. 

By the end of 2006, more than 130 health care professionals were practicing in DHCC, and the community had recorded more than 30,000 outpatient visits.

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