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RELATED ARTICLES: Kuwait to spend $160m on nine hospital annexes | Gulf hospital projects in rude health | Al Fouzan wins SR500m university hospital contract
Kuwait has set aside around KD 37 billion (US $127 billion) to spend on hospital projects in the next four years, according to a Middle East healthcare expert.
The project plans are reportedly due to an increase in Type 2 diabetes and obesity across the GCC and a rise in demand for beds, as well as a growing desire to bring healthcare tourism to the region.
WSP Middle East’s technical director for healthcare Carl Platt said: “The reason construction companies get involved with projects in this sector is because there is a high demand for hospitals in the region, and that is not going to suddenly stop.
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“Kuwait for example has got about KD 37 billion to spend on hospitals in the next four years, because the hospitals there are about thirty years old.
“Healthcare tourism is also important in a lot of places. Up until now a lot of locals have been going abroad for their healthcare, to countries such as the US and the UK that are more technically advanced.
He added: “In Dubai, there have been attempts to improve healthcare, but a lot of new projects went on hold during the financial crisis.
“Dubai will have to restart projects again soon however, because obesity and type 2 diabetes are a growing problem in the region.”
Currently, Saudi Arabia is leading the way on hospital projects, with a US $10 billion hospital building initiative ongoing.
Another big mover, according to Platt, is Abu Dhabi which is currently refurbishing Al Ain hospital and Mafraq hospital, and building the Cleveland Clinic hospital (being developed by Mubadala) from scratch.
A full analysis on hospital building will be featured in this week’s edition of Construction Week, released Saturday 17th July.
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