[:en]17 June 2014 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, the oldest and one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world and United Eastern Medical Services (UEMEDICAL), Abu Dhabi’s leading privately owned healthcare development and investment company, signed today a partnership agreement to establish Moorfields Eye Centre (MEC) in Abu Dhabi.
Moorfields Eye Centre will open in Abu Dhabi towards the end of 2014, and will offer the same comprehensive range of high quality clinical services and day case surgical procedures offered at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. Services offered at the Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi will include paediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, glaucoma, retina – medical and surgical, oculoplastics (cosmetic surgery around the eye), corneal, and refractive (vision corrective surgery). Since October 2013, Ophthalmology Consultants from Moorfields have been providing outpatient services at UEMEDICAL’s HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Centre in Abu Dhabi.
Moorfields opened its purpose-built hospital in Dubai in 2007 – the first overseas branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London – and which has since treated more than 31,000 patients, some of whom have come from Abu Dhabi. The hospital has a permanent team of 10 specialist consultants and has confirmed its status as a centre of excellence in treatment, training and research.
UEMEDICAL owns and operates a network of specialty centres and family clinics across Abu Dhabi under its ‘HealthPlus’ brand, and will soon open the first specialized Women and Children’s Hospital, Danat Al Emarat, in Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Mohamad Ali Al Shorfa Al Hammadi, CEO & Managing Director of United Eastern Medical Services commented – “Such an agreement with world renowned Ophthalmic Center of Excellence, Moorfields Eye Hospital, represents another step for UEMEDICAL in the realization of the UAE Leaders vision to provide the people of the UAE with the best healthcare facilities comparable to international standards. It also comes in line with the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi strategic priorities to improve clinical outcomes through partnering with world renowned partners. The new Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi will complement our other outpatient centers. We develop integrated healthcare systems that raise the bar for medical excellence. The New Moorfields Eye Centre in Abu Dhabi will be one of very few facilities in the emirate that are fully specialized in eye care services. Through partnering with Moorfields we plan on bridging the gap in the current eye care services available in the Emirate”
Commenting on the new agreement and centre, Mr. John Pelly, CEO of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very pleased to sign this partnership agreement with UEMEDICAL and to bring Moorfields’ world class eye care services to the community of Abu Dhabi. Our mission always remains constant, which is to focus on treating patients, teaching and research and this new centre will aim to make a significant contribution in all three areas, in Abu Dhabi. The new centre is an important part of our expansion strategy for the UAE and will complement Moorfields’ mission in Dubai and hopefully replicate the hospital’s outstanding success in serving the community and supporting the development of healthcare in the UAE.”