s22.travian.ae
August 20th, 2008, 10:19 AM
Hospital embarks on expansion drive
http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2008/8/20/2_236773_1_248.jpg
THE Medicare Group plans to double the capacity of its Al Ahli Hospital to over 500 beds within three years.
The DSM-listed company has received approval from Urban Development & Planning Authority (UPDA) to construct two additional buildings for the hospital,
Medicare Group managing director and CEO Abdulwahed al-Mawlawi said yesterday.
He said the Ahli Hospital expansion would help it set up more clinics and a wellness (health maintenance) centre besides additional beds. The hospital expansion is expected to be completed within three years.
In order to support the hospital’s “exponential growth”, al-Mawlawi said the staff strength would be increased to more than 1,200 from existing 600.
In the next two months, some 25 doctors, mostly “highly qualified” consultants, will join the hospital.
Al-Mawlawi said the expansion would also ensure that the hospital would be able to cater to the needs of a large segment of the population when the proposed national health insurance scheme took effect.
“With a health insurance policy, people will be able to choose the hospital they want. The public sector-private sector divide in the health care system will go with such a scheme taking effect.”
Al-Mawlawi said the expansion would facilitate the offering of sub specialties which required more clinics, beds and other facilities.
Asked about the hospital’s customer focus, he said: “We are looking for more walk-in guests. It is good we have tie-up with major companies like ExxonMobil, Qatargas and RasGas. But our focus will continue to be on walk-in customers.”
He said Medicare Group had had an eventful year up to June 2008 when it turned corner and posted a net profit of QR25mn.
“A year ago we were in the red with a net loss of QR13.6mn. Considering that, our H1 results are quite gratifying.”
According to a financial statement filed with the DSM by the company earlier, its net profit was due to its quadrupling operating profit and capital gains from sale of shares.
The operating (gross) profit jumped more than four-fold to QR26.27mn as operating income rose faster than expenses. The operating income more than doubled to QR63.83mn, while operating expenses rose 68% to QR37.56mn, leaving an operating (gross) profit of QR26.27mn.
The profit on sale of shares amounted to QR19mn and other income was up 56% to QR4.85mn, while interest income fell 22% to QR0.68mn in the first half of the year.
http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2008/8/20/2_236773_1_248.jpg
THE Medicare Group plans to double the capacity of its Al Ahli Hospital to over 500 beds within three years.
The DSM-listed company has received approval from Urban Development & Planning Authority (UPDA) to construct two additional buildings for the hospital,
Medicare Group managing director and CEO Abdulwahed al-Mawlawi said yesterday.
He said the Ahli Hospital expansion would help it set up more clinics and a wellness (health maintenance) centre besides additional beds. The hospital expansion is expected to be completed within three years.
In order to support the hospital’s “exponential growth”, al-Mawlawi said the staff strength would be increased to more than 1,200 from existing 600.
In the next two months, some 25 doctors, mostly “highly qualified” consultants, will join the hospital.
Al-Mawlawi said the expansion would also ensure that the hospital would be able to cater to the needs of a large segment of the population when the proposed national health insurance scheme took effect.
“With a health insurance policy, people will be able to choose the hospital they want. The public sector-private sector divide in the health care system will go with such a scheme taking effect.”
Al-Mawlawi said the expansion would facilitate the offering of sub specialties which required more clinics, beds and other facilities.
Asked about the hospital’s customer focus, he said: “We are looking for more walk-in guests. It is good we have tie-up with major companies like ExxonMobil, Qatargas and RasGas. But our focus will continue to be on walk-in customers.”
He said Medicare Group had had an eventful year up to June 2008 when it turned corner and posted a net profit of QR25mn.
“A year ago we were in the red with a net loss of QR13.6mn. Considering that, our H1 results are quite gratifying.”
According to a financial statement filed with the DSM by the company earlier, its net profit was due to its quadrupling operating profit and capital gains from sale of shares.
The operating (gross) profit jumped more than four-fold to QR26.27mn as operating income rose faster than expenses. The operating income more than doubled to QR63.83mn, while operating expenses rose 68% to QR37.56mn, leaving an operating (gross) profit of QR26.27mn.
The profit on sale of shares amounted to QR19mn and other income was up 56% to QR4.85mn, while interest income fell 22% to QR0.68mn in the first half of the year.