United Eastern Medical Services brings in experts Diabetes from Germany to manage its new HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE: in line with the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi strategic priorities to improve clinical outcomes, United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical), Abu Dhabi’s leading healthcare investment and Development Company, and its premium network of outpatient centers in Abu Dhabi ‘HealthPlus’, signed today a strategic partnership agreement with the Diabetes Zentrum Mergentheim (DZM) from Germany to comprehensively transform diabetes care and treatments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The agreement ceremony between the two parties was held in DZM facilities in Germany, in the presence of Mr. Mohamad Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Managing Director & CEO of UEMedical; Mr. Majd Abu Zant, CEO of HealthPlus; and Mr.Thomas Böer, CEO of the Diabetes Zentrum Mergentheim in Germany.
DZM, one of the most prominent healthcare providers in diabetes care, will be responsible for the management of the new HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center which will open by September 2012 in the capital of the UAE. The Medical Director and a team of highly qualified clinicians will be joining the new Center directly from DZM-Germany bringing in the medical expertise and clinical management skills required to insure the best international standards of care are achieved. The new 11.5-million dirham Center will be a welcomed addition to HealthPlus growing portfolio of specialized outpatient centers.
The agreement represents a critical milestone in UEMedical’s strategy to create and sustain one of the finest private health systems for the Emirate. The DZM is internationally renowned and respected for its focus on the needs of diabetic patients and family, and its relentless efforts to offer the highest standards in diabetes and endocrinology prevention, education and treatment with the highest clinical outcomes in accordance with the official German and international guidelines including the German Diabetes and Endocrinology Association, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA). DZM also has extensive knowledge and experience in the Middle East market specifically the UAE as a result of their recent collaboration with Daman – Abu Dhabi’s Health Insurance Company in supporting Daman’s Chronic Disease Management Program. The agreement also includes setting up a training academy which will provide further education for medical professionals, diabetologists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals on all topics related to diabetes and endocrinology, its prevention and treatment. In addition to that, it will provide training for diabetes educators and nurses in the region to enable them to deliver self-management education for diabetic patients.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr. Mohamad Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi said, “Attracting a German healthcare institution that is specialized in Diabetes to Abu Dhabi such as DZM will improve diabetes care in the region on the long run. Such an agreement represents another step for UEMedical in the realization of the UAE leaders’ vision to provide the people of the UAE with the best healthcare facilities comparable to international standards. It also comes in line with the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi strategic priorities to improve clinical outcomes through partnering with world renowned partners.”
“The new stand-alone HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center will complement our other HealthPlus Centers including the Women’s Health Center, Fertility Center and Family Health Centers. We expect to receive at the new Center 2500 new patients yearly, with more than 10000 patients’ encounters. Our new Center will be one of very few in the UAE fully specialized in diabetes care and will help decreasing waiting times and provide more alternatives to diabetic and endocrine patients,” Mr. Al Hammadi added.
The signing took place after a briefing on the new agreement and key elements of the initiative to the attending officials from both parties. Mr. Majd Abu Zant commented, “Abu Dhabi is developing rapidly into one of the most reputable healthcare hubs in the Middle East. Our partnership today with DZM will ensure our ongoing provision of high-quality healthcare services to the people of Abu Dhabi and comes in line with the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi strategies and efforts towards improving healthcare delivery in the capital and combating the incidence of diabetes through early detection, education and training. With such a partnership, we aim not only to achieve the best clinical outcomes but also to prevent or delay the development of more costly complications associated with diabetes such as cardio – and cerebrovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy.”
Mr. Thomas Böer said, “We are indeed privileged for the opportunity to be a partner in such a remarkable cooperation, which can be seen as a unique milestone for the treatment of people with diabetes mellitus in Abu Dhabi. Our approach for world-class medical care includes highly qualified doctors and assistance and ongoing training in the field of diabetes mellitus while using state-of-the-art equipment. With the continuous research in the causes and prevention of the diabetes epidemic we endeavour to develop and evaluate new technologies and treatment options within the diabetes care. In partnership with HealthPlus it is our aim to become a well-respected Diabetes Center in the UAE region. We anticipate a mutual beneficial and long-lasting partnership with HealthPlus.”
“Our new Center will offer the complete spectrum of services for diabetic patients such as outpatient treatment, prevention nutritional advice and patient education in addition to professional training to other healthcare professionals in the UAE. The Center will also include subspecialties that are crucial to diabetic patients including podiatry, internal medicine, cardiology, nephrology and ophthalmology. Amongst our future plans with DZM is to build up also a Hospital for diabetes patients similar to DZM network in Germany that includes an inpatient facility, in addition to the outpatient centers and the academy for diabetes healthcare professionals,” Mr. Abu Zant further added.
Researches in the region show that in the near future a dramatic increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus will occur. Responsible for this development is the profound change of life style (sedentary lifestyle, nutrition with high calorie content and obesity) and an enhanced genetic related susceptibility for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Prevalence rates for type 2 diabetes mellitus are expected to rise over 18% in the region. Beside type 2 diabetes mellitus, it can be expected that type 1 diabetes mellitus will at least have the average prevalence of other countries, which is approximately at 0.5%.
Information about DIABETES
Diabetes mellitus is the condition used to describe patients who have high blood sugar levels, due to poor absorption of glucose into the body. For this to occur, either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin which breaks down the glucose for absorption into the body, or the insulin that is produced doesn’t work properly. Type I diabetes usually occurs earlier in life and results from the loss of pancreatic cells producing insulin, whilst Type II diabetes often occurs after the age of 40 and results from resistance to or insufficient production of insulin produced in the body. Whilst diabetes mellitus has many causes and often results as a culmination of multiple risk factors, cardiovascular disease and obesity represent significant confounding factors for the incidence of Type II diabetes. In order to combat the high prevalence of this life threatening condition, a combination of management and education, lifestyle and pharmacological factors need to be addressed.
About UEMedical
United Eastern Medical (UEMedical) was formed in 2005 with the aim of raising the standard of healthcare service delivery and has since become Abu Dhabi’s leading privately owned Healthcare Development and Investment Company. UEM possesses the breadth of experience, the network of expertise and the financial backing to assume a prominent role in a complex and challenging healthcare environment, aiming to differentiate themselves on the basis of medical excellence, innovation and an unparalleled level of customer service. UEM will develop and manage an integrated healthcare delivery system that comprises world-class specialty hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout the UAE. Its portfolio of projects is coming together to leverage the combined talent and resources of a world class hospitals, 6 specialty centers and 14 family clinics to create an integrated healthcare delivery system across Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Among its main projects for the coming years, UEM will see the opening of the 250-bed Danat Al Emarat Women & Children’s hospital in Abu Dhabi City (2012). By partnering with a number of internationally renowned healthcare providers, UEM also ensures that international standards in patient care delivery and best practices are put in place. For more information, please visit www.uems.ae
HealthPlus
‘HealthPlus’, Abu Dhabi’s growing network of premium outpatient centers, was established by UEMedical, the Abu Dhabi based healthcare investors and developers. The healthcare network will provide state-of-the-art outpatient medical services and support the multiple missions of UEMedical, including outstanding patient care and extensive community outreach. Over 20 facilities, adopting international standards and best practices, will open over the coming years and form part of an integrated healthcare delivery system including UEMedical’s flagship project, Danat Al Emarat Women and Children's Hospital.
The network will comprise of Centers of Excellence in a variety of specialties including Women’s Health, Fertility & Genetics, Day Surgery, Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, and Dental Health, in addition to a number of Family Clinics. The centers will be heavily involved in promoting community health awareness and education, and in supporting national programs in line with the initiatives of the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi of improving public health. HealthPlus will fill the apparent gaps in the healthcare sector, and focus will continually be placed on medical excellence, patient-centeredness and unparalleled levels of customer service. For more information, please visit www.hplus.ae
About the Diabetes Zentrum Mergentheim in Germany
The Diabetes Zentrum Mergentheim was launched more than 25 years ago with the aim to become the leading German Diabetes Center. Today it is one of the top healthcare institutions worldwide and well-known due to it is numerous international activities. Annually the Diabetes-Clinic treats about 3.700 in-patients and 18.000 out-patients with the main diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. In its function as an emergency hospital the Diabetes-Clinic represents the mission of the German country to treat in-patients with diabetes mellitus. As a professional hospital in the specialised medical field of diabetes mellitus it medicates patients which have to be treated stationary, provided that the out-patient therapy trials have been exhausted. In particular this includes especially patients with complicated diabetic foot ulcers, complex monitoring and complications. A further emphasis is the treatment of disorders of motivation and acceptance, and the treatment of diabetes mellitus related to depression and other psychiatric disorders. The therapeutic range is complemented with the insulin pump therapy. Additionally to the regular patients approximately 400 children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus are treated annually in the Diabetes Zentrum Mergentheim.
For press enquiries, please contact:
Farah Al Alami
Marketing & Communications Manager, UEMedical
T: 00971 50 6611428
E: falami@uems.ae