Underscoring Emaar’s development approach of creating integrated lifestyle communities, The Dubai Mall Medical Centre is a value addition to Downtown Burj Dubai, the 500-acre mega-project developed by Emaar Properties. Emaar Healthcare Group will also open two clinics in Arabian Ranches and The Meadows, further establishing the lifestyle appeal of Emaar’s communities in Dubai.

Newly opened in the second floor of The Dubai Mall, the healthcare facility is the largest outpatient facility in the region and leverages the medical expertise of US-based Methodist International, to offer the entire spectrum of specialities.

Mr. Omar Al Shunnar, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Healthcare Group, said the response to The Dubai Mall Medical Centre has been positive and encouraging – both from patients and the medical fraternity in the region.

He said: “Every aspect of the medical centre has been carefully planned – from receiving patients to offering them personalised consultancy and follow-up. The Diagnostic Imaging Centre is the most advanced of its kind and leverages the latest in imaging technology. The consulting suites are designed to relax the patients and are supported by a paperless patient administration through electronic records for ease of access and future referencing.”

In addition to its emphasis on evidence-based medicine and commitment to international best practices, The Dubai Mall Medical Centre offers superior hospitality standards with exceptional customer service and a patient oriented experience.

The Dubai Mall Medical Centre’s Diagnostic Imaging department features the latest technology in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Computed Tomography (CT); Conventional radiology (X-ray); Ultrasound; Bone densitometry; Mammography; and Fluoroscopy. Constantly monitored for international quality assurance programmes, the medical centre’s Laboratory will play a pivotal role in providing world-class patient care. Services on site include: Biochemistry, Haematology, Microbiology, Immunology and Serology.

Emaar Healthcare Group is mandated with creating healthcare centres in Emaar’s communities. “We have ambitious plans to take this successful model of healthcare developments in integrated communities to Emaar’s projects in other key global markets,” added Mr Al Shunnar.

The DHA has tied up with Neuron LLC for the ENAYA scheme which means ‘Care’ in Arabic. The scheme will be implemented from the 1st of July, 2009 and will provide health insurance cover to all government employees and their dependents.

Laila Al Jassmi, Director of Health Funding at the DHA said, “We are very pleased with the outcome of this scheme and the scope of diseases it covers. In addition to a comprehensive medical cover, the scheme also gives priority to preventative measures that are crucial to improve the health of the population, save lives and reduce the economic burden on the healthcare system.”

Al Jassmi said normally schemes do not focus on providing preventative cover, however the ENAYA scheme provides all government employees with the opportunity to have a comprehensive medical check up done, which includes screening for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, stress, and various forms of cancer such as skin, breast and cervical cancer.

In addition to providing a preventative cover, another important service of the scheme is that it provides cover for pre-existing medical conditions.

Al Jassmi said, “We wanted to ensure that employees with pre-existing medical conditions do not get left out of the scheme and the benefit it provides. We have also given much-needed importance to chronic diseases and focused on women’s health in this scheme.”

The scheme covers chronic diseases such as diabetes; it covers nervous disorders and psychiatric treatment and also provides women with comprehensive medical cover.

For women, the scheme covers aliments such as ovarian cysts, polycystic ovarian disease and menstrual disorders that are not related to infertility.

Moreover it covers maternity, however, pre-authorization is required in such cases to avoid abuse of the system.

Al Jassmi said, “The scheme provides cover for newborn babies from day one, provided the baby is added in the scheme within the first 60 days of birth.”

The scheme also includes dental cover limited to cleaning and scaling every six months and for children it covers fluoridization and sealants up to the age of 18 years.

The ENAYA scheme covers the employee, his spouse and three children. For Emiratis, parents of the employee are also covered and the number of children covered is unrestricted.

To avail of the scheme, employees have to present their identification card in addition to the ENAYA card.

The Dubai Health Funding team met with the Human Resource (HR) section of all 38 government departments in Dubai and gave presentations about the scheme to employees in organizations such as the Department of Finance, Dubai police, Dubai Municipality, and Department of Naturalization & Residency amongst others.