Muscat :
The promoters of the $1 billion International Medical City project in Salalah plan to bring the prestigious healthcare infrastructure and medical tourism venture into operation in 2016, according to a high-level executive of the flagship development.
Dr Naeema Aziz, Project Director, said the integrated development, which will house the region’s first purpose-built transplantation and rehabilitation centre, as well as Oman’s first advanced tertiary care hospital and diagnostics centre, promises to transform the country’s healthcare landscape.
“The International Medical City will open a new chapter in Oman’s healthcare development,” said Dr Aziz. “It will establish the Sultanate as a regional hub for transplant based medical tourism, encompassing kidney, liver and pancreas transplantation and rehabilitation services. Besides easing the government’s burden in providing tertiary healthcare services, this prestigious venture will also contribute to economic development in Salalah, and create employment for Omanis,” she added in a presentation at the Oman Construction Summit yesterday.
Development of the unique project is expected to begin in earnest this year on an 870,000 sq metre waterfront stretch overlooking the Arabian Sea. The plot has been allocated by the Ministry of Tourism, underscoring strong governmental backing for the scheme. The Ministry of Health is also supporting the development as a strategic partner, she said.
The International Medical City project is being spearheaded by the Dammam (Saudi Arabia) based Apex Medical Group, which is a wholly subsidiary of Al Joaib Investment Group, a major Saudi firms with interests primarily focused on the oilfield contracting services. Apex Medical is currently weighing partnership offers from Omani, as well as GCC investors, said Dr Aziz.
Given the size and ambitious nature of the venture, the International Medical City will be implemented in three phases, according to the project director. The first phase will centre on the construction of a 530-bed multispecialty tertiary care hospital supported by three proposed centres of excellence in transplantation services, rehabilitative care, and diagnostic services.
Envisioned in Phase 2 is a healthcare resort complete with 4-star medical hotel. Residential quarters for faculty and staff, serviced apartments for clients, and commercial components will also be added in this phase. The third phase will focus on the development of a medical education complex featuring dedicated medical and nursing colleges, and an R&D centre.
Importantly, the reputed American global hospital brand, Methodist International, has been roped in as the strategic partner in the project. The Texas-based brand will be responsible for hospital programme management and the secondment of senior executive staff to manage the Medical City.
Drawing a timeline for the implementation of the project, Dr Aziz said the development of infrastructure would commence this year, alongside the engineering design of the healthcare components and serviced apartments. Actual construction of the healthcare cluster, as well as the serviced apartments, is targeted for completion in 2015. The Medical City will be formally inaugurated in 2016, she added.
Bank Muscat has been appointed as Financial Advisors for the project. The pre-concept master plan was undertaken by Atkins. Korea’s Asan Medical Centre has been named the Strategic Partner for the training of staff in transplantation care.
Significantly, the International Medical City will create an estimated 1,000 jobs during Phase 1 of the project, rising to around 3,000 when all three phases are operational, Dr Aziz added. The Oman Construction Summit 2013, organised by Global Exhibitions and Conferences in partnership with IQPC, formally opens today.
source: http://www.main.omanobserver.com / Oman Daily Observer / by Conrad Prabhu / Monday, January 28th, 2013
