publish time

15/02/2023

author name Arab Times

publish time

15/02/2023

Hospital a qualitative addition to medical sector and medical infrastructure

Photos taken from the event

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 15: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dhaman Hospitals Company Thamer Arab has confirmed the completion of the construction of Dhaman Health System at the opening of Dhaman Hospital in Jahra Governorate recently. He said Dhaman has fulfilled the construction requirements as part of preparations for operation and to start serving the beneficiaries. He pointed out: “Without a doubt, Dhaman’s operation of its system -- which provides a new and advanced model in healthcare through its multiple facilities -- is a step in the right direction. It aims to reduce the burden of the government’s budget and to give the private sector an opportunity to be an active partner. It will reduce pressure on the Ministry of Health and this will be reflected in the quality of health services offered to Kuwaiti citizens.

“We have come a long way in completing and building the company’s medical facilities. We are proud to open this advanced hospital, which is part of our vision to be the leading provider of high quality integrated healthcare, including primary and secondary health care centers; in addition to a wide range of support and educational services. This will be done in cooperation with a global expert in managing a health system of this size – the Spanish corporation Ribera Salud. The healthcare model here is proactive, and it focuses on spreading health awareness and community prevention.

“In coordination with the Ministry of Health, especially in the recruitment of specialized and advisory medical staff and others for the hospitals; we are hoping to obtain the necessary competencies to operate all departments and provide full medical services. We are keen on obtaining all the necessary licenses and to complete procedures in order to start operating soon and to realize the vision of this project, which is considered the largest and one of the most important pillars of healthcare projects. “The company has started taking the preliminary steps to offer its shares for subscription to citizens who are considered our partners – 50 percent of the capital – which is expected to take place within this year, as it is one of the main goals we want to achieve for the benefit of the citizens and the company.”

Primary health care centers
Arab continued saying: “Dhaman health network is currently operating based on the commercial model of private medical centers. This will be the case until the Dhaman system is operational, as it includes five primary healthcare centers of different sizes and distributed in various areas. The number of clinics in our smallest center in Jahra is 13 covering family medicine, pediatrics and dentistry, with a capacity to serve around 243,000 people annually. Dhaman Center in Fahaheel consists of 47 clinics with a capacity of up to 864,000 people annually. It is considered the largest in Kuwait with a total of two million visits annually or 6,700 thousand visits daily. “We are also working towards the opening of four new health centers this 2023 -- Bneid Al-Gar, Salmiya, Al-Raqi and Ahmadi. These sites were chosen in proportion to the population distribution of the target segment which, in turn, will increase the capacity of the total centers to more than 4.8 million visits annually or more than 13,000 visits per day.”

Hospitals
Arab disclosed that the Dhaman hospitals in Ahmadi and Jahra governorates measure 82,000 square meters each; consisting of five fl oors and a basement with 330 beds, 14 operating rooms, 21 intensive care units for adults and newborns, 75 outpatient clinics covering all the main specialties, a central pharmacy that operates with an automated system, radiology departments, laboratories and an emergency department equipped with a helipad. We also added a multi-storey car parking building and open car parking areas with a capacity of more than 500 cars.

“We made sure that the design meets all the standards of smart buildings, as the hospital consists of a pharmacy operating with an automated system equipped with a unique Omni cell robot to dispense and deliver medicines automatically. We also developed an advanced recycling system for medical waste, taking into account that it is environmentally friendly in all aspects. “The two hospitals have about 50,000 admissions annually and about 175,000 days of hospital stay. The number of surgical operations is about 25,000 annually or 70 operations per day; and the number of annual visits in specialized clinics is about 700,000 or 2,360 daily. The emergency rooms can accommodate about 830,000 visits annually or 2,300 per day; while the specialized radiology examination units conduct about 228,000 tests per year or more than 600 daily, including ultrasound, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging examinations, and more than a million and a half laboratory tests.

“Through Dhaman, we seek to create a solid health base that establishes sustainable health development in line with the commitment of Kuwait to develop the medical system, transfer technology, provide the best medical devices, human resources and advanced management systems to improve health services for citizens and expatriates, as well as to build a healthy society.” Arab then expressed gratitude to all entities that cooperated with Dhaman to complete the system. He also thanked the employees of Dhaman for the great achievements and successes over the last period. On the other hand, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) official Khaled Al-Hassoun congratulated Dhaman for completing the construction works. He asserted: “Two months ago, we met at the opening of Ahmadi Governorate Hospital. We meet again today at the opening of Jahra Governorate Hospital as a complementary step towards the full operation of the system, as specified in the company’s bidding brochure.” He said this is one of the projects in the development plan of the State; indicating “it is unique as it is directed towards improving services offered by the health sector, which is considered one of the most important sectors contributing to the national economy. Huge financial resources from the State’s general budget are directed to the sector annually.”

He affirmed that “KIA has provided all possible support to the company since the start of its work; contributing to its capital and playing an important role in the work of the company’s board of directors, up to the current stage, when it is about to complete its system. “This project is vital as it will contribute to achieving a quantum leap in the medical care sector and, God willing, will lead to increasing the contribution of the private sector to the gross national product. We also count on it to contribute to alleviating the financial burdens related to medical care from the State budget, especially in overcoming the challenges that the sector is currently facing. “This is in addition to providing primary and secondary healthcare to about 1.8 million expatriates working in the private sector and their families. It also offers great possibilities for improving the medical services provided to citizens under the Health Ministry’s system.

“Kuwaiti citizens are main partners in the company’s capital, as 50 percent of the capital amounting to KD230 million has been allocated to them. We are hoping to invite them soon to buy shares; that is, after listing the company on Boursa Kuwait. “All concerned parties must cooperate to achieve the goal for which company was established and to be similar to the Health Ministry’s system in the near future. It should qualitatively contribute to stimulating the growth of non-oil economic activities and generate job opportunities for citizens – the primary goal of KIA in terms of the implementation of development projects. “We also hope that this project will contribute to a qualitative shift in the management of medical facilities in the country; as well as to enhance the efficiency, quality of services and competitiveness, in a way that will benefit the national economy,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Faleh Al-Dosari from the Supreme Council for Planning and Development stressed that Dhaman is one of the strategic projects in the development plan of the State and the Kuwait 2035 Vision. He revealed the company was established according to an Amiri decree and as a partnership project between the private and public sectors with a capital of KD230 million distributed as follows: 24 percent for KIA and Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS), 26 percent for the strategic partner and 50 percent for citizens.

Importance of the project in achieving high quality healthcare Al-Dosari stated that the project aims to achieve one of the pillars of the development plan – high quality health care, which is a vital element of national development. He added: “An effective and sustainable healthcare system is the cornerstone of progress in all fields. It is managed through the mechanism, planning and implementation of the private sector in partnership with the government sector, which supports the achievement of goals in line with the healthcare trends in the world. Therefore, Dhaman is considered a pioneering and effective model that achieves the Kuwait 2035 Vision.”

Dhaman and its impact on the State of Kuwait
According to Al-Dosari, “Governments, especially those in the Arab Gulf region, are struggling to develop healthcare for their communities. Many of them intend to invest in strategic partnerships with the private sector to improve the health sector. Advanced healthcare through partnership between the public and private sectors aims to reduce and rationalize government spending in the field of healthcare; as well as improve public health services and facilities, and expand access to high quality healthcare services. This is in addition to improving and raising the indicators of healthcare in the country and providing job opportunities in this field. Therefore, the government has started forming partnerships. Its most important, pioneering and ambitious project is Dhaman -- the new compulsory health insurance destination for all expatriates working in the private sector who hold Article 18 visa specifically, in addition to their families and their number is estimated at two million.”

Financial sustainability
Al-Dosari explained that “Dhaman was established as a public shareholding company, subject to the Kuwaiti Companies Law; as it does not receive support from the State. Based on detailed studies from companies and specialized research agencies commissioned by KIA that carried out the incorporation process, it has been proven that the company enhances the financial sustainability of the State through two directions -- the first of which is to reduce the financial burden on the State This is represented in capital expenditures and health sector expenses, which double annually. Second is to achieve lucrative investment returns for shareholders, including the government sector and Kuwaiti citizens, as they are shareholders in the company’s capital.”

The role of the Secretariat General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development Al-Dosari said “the Secretariat General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development is keen on supporting and following up the implementation of development plan projects in order to realize the Kuwait 2035 Vision. It is also committed to overcome all difficulties in coordination with partner agencies and to submit periodic follow up reports to the Council of Ministers.”

Moreover, Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait Miguel Aguilar expressed his admiration for the health insurance system; expecting it to achieve a quantum leap in the health sector in the State of Kuwait with its distinguished health model, which is being applied for the first time in cooperation with the Spanish international operator -- Ribera Salud. He added: “The Spanish side has the desire and capability to strengthen cooperation in the field of health. It is working with the Kuwaiti side to explore new opportunities and inject new momentum for cooperation between the two countries, which provides greater contributions to enhancing the development of Kuwait and consolidating the relationship between the two countries.” Also present at the event were Dhaman Board Chairman Mutlaq Al- Sanea, MPs Alia Al-Khaled and Abdullah Al-Anbaei. Members of the founding committee of the company were honored during the event.