Aster DM Healthcare Brings Free Specialist Care to Nigeria

Aster DM Healthcare offers free orthopedic and neurosurgery consultations in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, delivering JCI-accredited care directly in Nigeria.

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Aster DM Healthcare, a leading GCC healthcare provider with 16 hospitals in 12 countries and 14,000+ staff treating 17 million patients annually, has launched a free specialist outreach program in Nigeria.

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The program offers free outpatient consultations (OPD) in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, focusing on orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery—allowing Nigerians to access world-class care without traveling abroad.

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Nigeria spends nearly $2.5 billion annually on medical tourism, with more than 60% going to India. Aster’s “reverse medical tourism” initiative brings JCI-accredited expertise to Nigeria, while also providing Continuous Medical Education (CME) for local doctors.

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The initiative is set to expand into maternal & child health, pediatrics, and surgical fellowships, addressing brain drain and strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

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A “Reverse Medical Tourism” Model

By bringing expert care directly to Nigeria, Aster helps retain critical healthcare spending locally while providing patients access to international-quality treatment.

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Building Capacity for the Future

Beyond patient consultations, Aster focuses on knowledge transfer and capacity building through:

• CME sessions for Nigerian doctors

• Collaborations with local hospitals and regulators like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)

• Plans to expand into maternal & child health, pediatrics, and surgical fellowships for long-term healthcare improvement

Mandatory Health Insurance Boosts Patient Visits by 25% in Northern Emirates

​The UAE’s mandatory health insurance scheme, introduced on January 1, 2025, for workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, has already transformed healthcare access.

Within just eight months, hospitals in the Northern Emirates have reported a 25% surge in patient visits.

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Key Highlights

• AED 320/year → cost of the basic health insurance plan.

• AED 440/year → cost with add-on coverage.

• 25% increase in hospital demand since rollout.

• 7 hospitals, 46 clinics, 45 pharmacies now part of the network.

• 209-bed multi-specialty hospital planned in Ras Al Khaimah by 2027.

• Sharjah population: 1.9 million in 2025, up 2% (37,700 people) in 12 months.

Impact on Healthcare

• Access for all: Thousands of low-income workers and domestic staff now covered.

• Population growth factor: Another driver of the surge, with Sharjah alone adding nearly 38,000 new residents in a year.

• Better financial protection: Families save on out-of-pocket expenses with co-payments capped at affordable levels.

• Infrastructure growth: Healthcare groups are hiring staff, expanding facilities, and opening new community clinics.

Why It Matters

Before 2025, many workers delayed treatment due to costs. Now, affordable coverage and rapid population growth are pushing hospitals to expand capacity—ensuring earlier diagnosis, timely care, and healthier communities across the Northern Emirates.​

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National Medical Care Company, KSA Expands Care Medical Al Rawabi Facility

National Medical Care Company (NMC), a leading Saudi Arabia-based healthcare organization, has received final approval from the Ministry of Health to expand its Care Medical facility at Al Rawabi to 360 beds. 

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About ​National Medical Care Company (NMC)

Founded in 2003 as a joint venture between the General Organization of Social Insurance (GOSI) and private shareholders, NMC specializes in hospital management, healthcare centers, and medical services, including orthopedics, cardiology, general surgery, and acute care.

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The company has 438 doctors and over 4,100 staff, with 1,174 beds across six branches: Haram, Rawabi, ReLib, Malaz, Al Salam, and Al Balad. NMC serves clients including GOSI, insurance companies, and the Ministry of Health.

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Strong Financial Performance

In H1 25, NMC posted SAR 783 million revenue, up 32% y/y, with 460,300 patients served and EBIT of SAR 182 million (margin 23.3%).

Bed occupancy reached 80.9%, reflecting the company’s efficiency and growing patient demand.

Conclusion

National Medical Care Company continues to demonstrate resilience, growth, and innovation, with strategic expansions and strong financial performance positioning it as a leading private healthcare provider in the Kingdom.

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Why Healthcare Licensing Matters in the UAE

​​Getting a healthcare license in the UAE is mandatory for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and all medical professionals. Licensing ensures safe, high-quality care and compliance with national regulations.

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The process may feel complex, but once you understand which authority governs your emirate—Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi, or Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)—the steps are straightforward.

Common Requirements Across All Authorities

• Primary Source Verification (PSV): Mandatory for verifying qualifications.

• Good Standing Certificate: Must be issued within the last 6 months.

• No Career Gaps Over 2 Years: Otherwise, additional training proof is needed.

• Senior Professionals (60+): Must provide medical fitness and psychological health reports.

• Facility Staffing Rule: One registered nurse per 2 doctors, or 2 dental assistants per 2 dentists.

Upcoming Change: Unified Licensing Platform by 2026

The UAE is developing a National Unified Digital Licensing System (launching by Q2 2026). This AI-powered platform will allow healthcare professionals to work across all emirates with a single license.

This reform is part of the UAE’s vision to cut bureaucracy and support over 200,000 healthcare professionals nationwide.

DOCKTOUR: UAE Delivers 800,000 Essential Medicines to Angola

​ DOCKTOUR, a UAE maritime-medical initiative led by AD Ports Group in partnership with Burjeel Holdings, has delivered 800,000 essential medicines to the Angola Ministry of Health.

The consignment includes antibiotics, pain relief and medicines for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The official handover was attended by Angolan Health Minister Dr. Silvia Lutucuta and UAE representatives including Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali and Safeer Ahamed. 

What is DOCKTOUR?

DOCKTOUR is an integrated maritime medical platform that combines scaled medical logistics, modular healthcare infrastructure, clinical training and rapid emergency response capabilities. Designed for remote and underserved regions, DOCKTOUR enables fast deployment of medicines, mobile clinics and trained teams — a replicable model for humanitarian medical aid and global health diplomacy.

Why this matters

• Strengthens UAE–Africa health cooperation and bilateral public health ties.

• Improves medicine access for remote and resource-constrained communities.

• Demonstrates scalable medical logistics and a new model for humanitarian medical diplomacy.

Revive ME – Healthy Longevity Summit in Abu Dhabi

When: 26–27 November 2025
Where: Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi

https://revivemeexpo.com/

What’s happening?

• The Middle East’s first-ever health longevity and wellness conference—focused on longevity science, biotech, regenerative medicine, ultra-personalised wellness, and AI-powered healthcare—is landing in Abu Dhabi this November Lifespan.

• Expect over 1,500 attendees, 70+ sponsors and exhibitors, 85+ speakers, and 700+ companies from around the world Lifespan.

Highlights to watch for:

• Expo floor packed with interactive demos, product launches, and immersive innovation zones

• Conference sessions featuring keynotes, panels, fireside chats, and startup pitches

• Power networking through specialized zones, pitch areas, and a hosted-buyer program tailored for startups, investors, policymakers, and healthcare leaders 

Why it matters:
Revive ME isn’t just a conference—it’s a landmark moment elevating Abu Dhabi as a global hub for the healthy-longevity and healthtech revolution. It bridges science, innovation, investment, and policy to shape how we live, heal, and thrive

Dubai’s health sector didn’t just tick up — it surged +26% in Q1-2025.

 For hospital leaders, this isn’t just a statistic — it’s a demand signal. The play isn’t rushing to add beds. It’s about capturing paying patients profitably with smarter, low-capex moves.

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Healthcare Sector Surge: The Human Health & Social Work sector recorded a staggering 26 % year-on-year growth, reaching AED 1.9 billion. Though this sector represents just 1.5 % of total GDP, it contributed 0.3 percentage points to overall growth

Why the +26%?

• Expanded insurance → bigger, paying patient pool

•  Medical tourism + inbound patients

•  New private & PPP capacity

• Digital & operational efficiency (tele-triage, e-scheduling, smarter OR/bed use)

• Productised, short-LOS specialties (ortho, cardiac, IVF)

 A 90-Day Ask
Run a focused SURGE sprint:
Tele-triage + one insurer bundle + pathway redesign → prove volume growth, ALOS reduction, margin uplift.​

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Saudi Arabia’s Medical Tourism on the Rise

Market Snapshot

• Valued at USD 1.34B in 2024, projected to hit USD 7.9B by 2033 (CAGR ~22%).

• Patients mainly from Middle East, Africa & South Asia seeking advanced care.

Growth Drivers

• Vision 2030 fueling mega healthcare projects: King Salman Medical City, NEOM hospitals, Saudi German expansions.

• AI & digital health: telemedicine, smart scheduling, multilingual support boosting patient experience.

• Integrated packages: treatment + travel + wellness under one roof.

• Specialties in demand: cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, fertility, organ transplants.

The Future Ahead

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• Saudi set to become a global hub for medical tourism, blending world-class healthcare with luxury hospitality.

• With strong government backing & digital transformation, it’s positioning itself as a regional leader by 2030+.

• Key challenges remain: visa processes & regional stability.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Makes History!

Abu Dhabi has become the first in the MENA region to introduce the Artisse device — a groundbreaking, minimally invasive treatment designed for patients with wide-neck brain aneurysms.

 Why it matters

• Safer care → Reduces the risk of life-threatening aneurysm rupture.

• Minimally invasive → Avoids the trauma of open-brain surgery.

• Faster recovery → Patients experience shorter hospital stays & quicker healing.

• Medical leadership → Reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional hub for advanced neurological care and innovation in life-saving treatments.

This milestone highlights Abu Dhabi’s commitment to bringing world-class technology & expertise to patients across the Middle East.