Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Link Maltauro (ELM) has been awarded the main construction contract for the Barraquer-UAE Eye Hospital by Grandis Investment Company, the investment firm behind the project.

The Barraquer Ophthalmology Center, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, is one of the leading eye clinics worldwide, conducting 150,000 consultations, with 16,000 surgical procedures including laser treatments in 2018. It also has a 24-hour Emergency Room that has attended to over 13,000 patients in a year.

The new hospital will be a debut for Barraquer in the Middle East market, said a statement from ELM.

The announcement was made following the completion of the foundation works in Phase Two of Dubai Healthcare City overlooking Al Khail Road.

Since its launch in 1941, the Barraquer Ophthalmology Center has been committed to providing cutting-edge research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of eye diseases and comprehensive eye care to patients.

Internationally, Barraquer stands as a centre of reference in corneal transplants, ocular surface, cataract, refractive surgery and retina diseases. It was the first centre in Spain to implant the Argus II artificial vision chip for patients with retinitis pigmentosa. It also houses the first eye bank founded in continental Europe in 1962, said ELM in its statement.
 
On the UAE debut, Prof Rafael I Barraquer, the medical director of Barraquer's Barcelona and Dr Elena Barraquer said: "Our UAE launch is a testament to our commitment to providing eye care of the highest quality to patients around the world."

"The UAE is committed to developing and delivering excellence in healthcare and is actively expanding its local healthcare services," they added.-TradeArabia News Service