Private sector has to play a major role in strengthening the local healthcare industry: Avivo Group CEO
UAE-based healthcare company Avivo Group plans to further expand its presence in the Gulf countries and North Africa amid growing opportunities and strong demand for healthcare services in these countries, its chief executive officer said.
"We are always on the growth path and keep looking to expand. We see the Middle East itself is growing, so our geographical expansion looks at Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to a large extent, while also looking into North Africa for the existing facilities and other new opportunities that come our way," Dr Dilshaad Ali said.
Among the group's 47 assets are two hospitals, 29 clinics, six pharmacies, six distribution centres, two training centres and two state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities across the UAE.
He added that Avivo Group is also in discussion on some private-public partnerships in some countries.
Dr Ali said the company continues looking for attractive assets in the GCC and Mena markets, as well as existing assets that offer strong returns to shareholders.
He also disclosed that some of the entities can take the initial public offering route provided the shareholders approve it in the years to come.
The group is also expanding its speciality line, which will include neuro-spinal, anti-ageing and some other key areas such as urology, advanced gastroenterology and others.
Dr Ali said the growth would come from the hospital segment of the healthcare delivery system as the current state of the platform will have a robust referral network to fill up future in-patient occupancies. "We have launched a centre of excellence in plastic surgery run by resident and visiting doctors from the US and Europe. We also have plans to launch a global rhinoplasty centre of excellence soon comprising with five best nose surgeons from around the world," Dr Ali added.
"We have segmented our assets into low-end and mid-to-high end clinics. Some of our clinics are currently being transformed into speciality clinics offering surgical services that will help us in increasing our revenue base significantly," he said.
Dr Ali said the private sector has to play a major role in strengthening the local healthcare industry as the government can't take the responsibility alone amid rising demand from the growing communities in the country.
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