Oman announces $1bn Medical City project

Plans have been revealed to establish a $1bn Medical City in Oman. The project, to be developed on a 800,000 sq m site in Salalah, will include a regional multi-specialty organ transplant and rehabilitation centre and a 530-bed hospital. The facilities will also include a state of the art diagnostic centre, healthcare resort and a healthcare education complex. Apex Medical Group (AMG) and Aljoaib Holding are behind the mega project, which has the support of the Oman government. Thes project has the potential to have a major impact on the range and quality of medical and surgical services provided in the Middle East & North Africa, Dr Abdulla Aljoib, founding president of AMG, said in a statement. Al Joaib added: "We firmly believe that the Medical City Project will bring significant benefits not only to the healthcare sector in the region, but also to the economic and social development of GCC countries. "The GCC is currently facing a gap in secondary, tertiary and specialised care and in rehabilitation services. "There are various factors that influence the need for a multi-specialty hospital and transplant centre in the GCC. Furthermore, there has been a tremendous increase in life style diseases which require specialised high quality organ transplant services within the region." He said Medical City Oman would be a "world-class medical education, research and development facility". He added that internationally recognised partnerships would facilitate academic and service excellence in the MENA region. The Medical City will also have a luxury hotel, wellness centre, and will also offer free medical and educational community support services to poor families. No timescale was given for the project but Apex Medical Group said it was "fully committed" to developing and managing Medical City.