Irish Firm Launches Healthcare Project In The UAE

Irish healthcare group Broadmeadow Healthcare International (BHI) has launched specialist services in caring for elderly people in the UAE, the company announced.

BHI will deliver geriatric services in the UAE through partnerships with local government agencies and healthcare providers. The group is planning to expand its operations to Bahrain too.

The company has also signed a MoU with local education service provider Edimund for the delivery of specialist training to nurses and care assistants when caring for the elders.

According to BHI, despite a rising demand for specialist care for elderly, there are no dedicated services in the UAE apart from hospital services.

“We are very proud and determined to be of assistance to the people of the UAE as they develop their services for an enhanced care of the older person infrastructure,” said John Collins, CEO of BHI.

“Through his recent declarations of intent following the national brainstorming session, HE Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has made it very clear that the elderly will not be forgotten, and their access to world-class services will receive special attention.

“BHI hopes to better serve that objective through the establishment of our local organisation, and looks forward to further progress in our engagement with UAE health service providers”.

The announcement was made during the Enterprise Ireland Trade and Investment Mission to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, which aims to promote commercial ties between Ireland and Gulf countries.

“Healthcare is a sector which we have targeted as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, and we have put in place a number of measures to support innovative Irish companies in this area,” said Richard Bruton, minister for jobs.

“This announcement by Broadmeadow Healthcare International is very welcome and shows what is possible for Irish companies in the UAE.”

A McKinsey & Company report has predicted the demand for healthcare in the GCC will rise by 240 per cent in the next 20 years.

According to an Ernst and Young report, the GCC faces a massive shortage of local skill in the healthcare industry, leading to an over-reliance on expats.