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Dubai, UAE: Despite the global financial crisis, the Dubai healthcare sector continues to witness rapid growth and continues to attract international healthcare players into the market. Colliers International has revealed the Dubai Healthcare Overview at this year's Hospital Build & Infrastructure Middle East Exhibition & Congress which continues until tomorrow (4 June) at the Dubai International Convention Center, Dubai, UAE. The report analysed the key demand and supply, risk and success factors shaping the healthcare sector in Dubai.
According to Mr Mansoor Ahmed, Director at Colliers International MENA Region for Healthcare, Education and PPP, “The healthcare market in the UAE and in Dubai continues to grow, primarily due to an increase in demand from population base, urbanisation and in particular the constantly fluctuating lifestyle which contributes to an increase in chronic diseases uncommon to the region. With the introduction of compulsory health insurance, and the promotion of Dubai as a regional medical hub, the healthcare sector is expected to witness further growth in demand.”
The report revealed that Dubai has experienced a significant medical construction boom in the last decade, driven by the need for new hospitals to “catch up” with population growth. Private hospital bed occupancy rates were 32% in 2005, and increased to 64% in 2007. With new facilities being added occupancy rates dropped to 45% in 2009. Increasing population levels and maturity in the sector, the bed occupancy rate has maintained at around 56% during 2011 and 2012. The total number of available beds in 2012 in the private sectors reached 1,468, compared to 793 in 2005, a CARG of 9.2%.
“Based on the growth in the number of beds, by the year 2020, the number is expected to reach approximately 2,900, however, the occupancy levels in Dubai presently stand at 56%, comparatively, based on international standards a hospital can operate efficiently up to 80% occupancy levels. Colliers estimate that if the private sector achieved 80% occupancy by 2020, the total number of beds required in Dubai is expected to be 2,100 beds instead of over 2,900 beds based on current occupancy levels,” highlighted Mr Ahmed.
The report also concluded that the total number of outpatients in the private healthcare sector (both private hospitals and private clinics) reached 5.6 million in 2012, representing a CAGR of 12.3% from 2005 to 2012. As for the number of out-patients, it is expected to reach as high as 14 million in 2020.
“In 2012, inpatients in the private healthcare sector reached almost 132,000, representing a CAGR of 26.4% from 2005 to 2012. The number of inpatients is expected to reach over 800,000 in 2020,” says Mr Ahmed.
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