NMC Healthcare plans expansion in Abu Dhabi

Centurion Investment and Dr B.R. Shetty have confirmed plans for two speciality healthcare projects to be owned and operated by NMC Healthcare in Abu Dhabi. This represents the first announcement since the former — an Abu Dhabi based investment group  acquired a stake in NMC Healthcare in late April as part of a private placement process. Shetty is the other shareholder and holds the position of managing director and CEO of NMC Healthcare. "There are significant opportunities for private sector participation in creating new capacities in Abu Dhabi's healthcare sector and that's exactly what we are going ahead and doing now," said Shetty. "The funds are there and what we are doing is deploy them where there is a felt need for quality healthcare." Article continues below The first project is a 100-bed speciality centre for paediatrics and maternity, as well as offer IVF services. It's located in the Al Jazeera Tower, whose other tenants include Barclays. The second is a 300-bed speciality hospital in Khalifa A, an emerging locality off the main city limits. "I believe we are the first to come up with such a healthcare investment in that neighbourhood," he said. "Being a 300-bed facility is vital for this location given its importance as a growing residential base." The same can be said about Abu Dhabi as a whole as well. With an expanding population, the creation of new communities and massive real estate developments, and initiatives such as mandatory health insurance, Abu Dhabi's healthcare sector is looking at a massive upgrade and expansion in the next three to five years. Some of the biggest names in the local and regional healthcare space are eyeing the market for locations and create facilities to match them. "This is where I believe NMC Healthcare has a head start — we are of this market and know it well based on decades of exposure to it," said Shetty. "We are bringing all of that expertise to the table."