India-based Fortis Healthcare Limited (Fortis), a leader in the integrated healthcare delivery sector in Asia, has entered into a strategic tie-up with Majid Al Futtaim Healthcare, a unit of UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, to operate and manage its health care assets in Dubai.

Fortis, in a signifcant step to expand and leverage its primary and day care specialty vertical in Asia, will begin with a Day Care Specialty Clinic located in Deira City Centre, one of Dubai’s largest shopping malls located in the heart of the city.

MAF Healthcare is a new business vertical recently established by Majid Al Futtaim Ventures – the growth engine responsible for developing new and innovative enterprises across the region, to invest in healthcare assets.

This agreement is the first towards a long-term association that Fortis and MAF Healthcare have committed to, in bringing advanced healthcare to this region.

With the Day Care Specialty Clinic expected to open in the first half of 2013, the broader strategy is to expand the business regionally. The focus of the clinics will be towards preventive and curative care with Fortis bringing its more than two decades of expertise in specialty care from within its network to the region.

Commenting on the deal, Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Ventures said, “We see tremendous opportunity for healthcare services in the GCC region and are excited about our group's foray in healthcare. MAF Healthcare‘s association with Fortis gives us a partner widely acknowledged in the Asian region for its expertise in managing different healthcare delivery verticals and in running top class medical facilities."

Fortis’ knowledge and medical insights in conjunction with its ambitious plans will bring better healthcare to the region.

The first MAF Healthcare Clinic in Deira City Centre will house consultation chambers, an endoscopy room, a minor OT, day care beds along with radiology & pathology facilities.

The clinic will provide medical care to a wide spectrum of populationin Deira and the adjoining areas of Bur Dubai, Karama, Oud Metha, Al Qusais and Al Sharjah.

The clinic will have full-time consultants in Internal Medicine, Gynecology, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Neurology, Dermatology & Cosmetics, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology and Dental, among other specialties.

Commenting on the positive development, Vishal Bali, Group CEO, Fortis Healthcare Limited, said," We are committed to grow our presence in the fast evolving healthcare sector of the GCC. We have an excellent footprint in the UAE with the presence of the SRL pathology diagnostics network and this operating and management agreement with MAF Healthcare gives us the opportunity to expand our presence in other verticals."

Through this association we are cross leveraging the tremendous expertise from our primary care business in Hong Kong and bringing that knowledge and acumen to UAE, stated Bali.

"This is an extension of our asset light strategy and we will be utilising the experience and expertise of our different verticals within the company, across Asia," he added.-TradeArabia News Service