Italy's prominent medical group Medicina Futura will open the first Italian multi-disciplinary medical center in Dubai on Sunday.
The group, which is keen on establishing its presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, believes Dubai is the perfect place to begin, thanks to its dominance in the socio-economic sectors of the region.
Based in Naples, Medicina Futura employs approximately 1,000 staff, including 500 doctors, at four hospitals and 10 clinics in Naples and surrounding district. The new hospital in Umm Suqeim, Dubai is the first venture of the group outside Italy.
The medical center is aimed at attracting Italians and other Europeans either living or visiting Dubai who are familiar with what Italian medical care offers, as well as to citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who frequently travel to Italy.
"We have been planning to extend our medical facilities outside Italy for some time and were very much aware of the development of health care in Dubai as part of the city's overall growth," Simone Improta, CEO of the Medicina Futura Group, told Gulf News Journal.
The Dubai Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project played a role in Medicina Futura coming to the Middle East.
"We have been given invaluable support by the Dubai FDI who have worked very closely with us to establish our first medical center outside Italy," Improta said. "We are particularly grateful to Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of the Dubai FDI, and its European partner Francesco Corbello for their advice and encouragement, and are very enthusiastic about this new venture."
The hospital will provide a variety of cutting-edge health care facilities for the people in the Emirates. It consists of a breast cancer unit and orthopedic department, with services including bariatric surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, general surgery, nephrology, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. Patients also will be able to book special appointments in Dubai with visiting Italian heart specialists and other doctors.
"We believe there is a demand in this region for the very best that Italian medical care can offer," Improta said. "Italian medical care has an international reputation for excellence. Our hospitals are comparable with the best hospitals anywhere in the world as Italian doctors are well trained and very passionate about their work."
Helping Medicina Futura Group's foray into the medical sector of the GCC countries, Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup winning team, will be the brand ambassador of the group in the UAE. Cannavaro is already a well-known and respected figure in the UAE, where he became a global brand ambassador and technical consultant for Al-Ahli Club following his retirement in 2011.
"Fabio is very much looking forward to visiting our first Italian medical center soon as he has very good memories of Dubai from his days as a player and coach at Al Ahli Club." Improta said. "Our medical expertise, and our relationship with Fabio will help in a similar way here in the UAE where local and expatriate people share the Italian passion for football."
Following the establishment of the medical center in Dubai, Medicina Futura plans to introduce several such facilities in the UAE and some of the other GCC countries over the next few years.
"Initially, our plans are to open another five medical centers in the UAE, and we will also be looking to establish facilities in some of the other GCC countries," Improta said.
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