Australian healthcare specialist Aspen Medical has started work on the first of the six major primary healthcare centres being developed in co-ordination with the Department of Health (DoH), Abu Dhabi, in the capital and Al Ain cities.

Under a contract with the DoH, Abu Dhabi, Aspen will be responsible for management and operation of the hospitals beside its construction.

Speaking at the official ground-breaking ceremony held in Abu Samrah area of the capital, Aspen Medical Group CEO Bruce Armstrong said, "Aspen Medical is honoured and pleased to be working in partnership with the DoH to bring our global primary healthcare experience to the people of Abu Dhabi through our locally-based team."

The company was selected by DoH Abu Dhabi to provide comprehensive primary healthcare in nine areas of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain following a public tendering process, he stated.

Mohamed Hamad Al Hameli, the under-secretary of the DoH Abu Dhabi, said: "This project emphasises the commitment of the DoH to ensuring world-class healthcare services to all residents across the UAE, taking into consideration our strategic plan and the requirement of primary medical care across the emirate."

The Abu Samrah Primary Health Clinic is due for completion in 2020, with further clinics being constructed in Al Wathba, Shakhbout City, Umm Ghaffa, Al Dhahra, and Al Salamat.

"This approach will identify strategic investment opportunities and attract key global players in the healthcare industry, which we are certain will add great value to Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector and support its investment prospects," he added.

The clinics in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will add to Aspen Medical’s growing global primary healthcare clinic network, said the Australian healthcare group.

It will provide comprehensive services to the public, including general medicine and family medicine, chronic disease management, healthcare screening and prevention services, vaccinations and immunisation, management of non-communicable diseases, management of communicable diseases, management of diagnostic services and an on-site pharmacy, it added.-TradeArabia News Service