Lifestyle diseases need creative approach: Dr. Azad

The prevalence of lifestyle diseases in the Kingdom could be tackled in a more creative way than the traditional approach, according to Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman of Aster DM Health Care group, a leading healthcare provider in GCC and India.

“This will require the medical fraternity to embrace the policy of ‘medical care going to the patient’ than the prevalent practice of ‘patients going to the medical centres,’ Dr. Moopen said. 

He was talking to DT News following the official launch  of the groups’ clinics in Bahrain.

“While looking at the statistics, we were surprised by the prevalence of lifestyle diseases here, even when compared to other GCC countries. We will be starting a similar programme in Bahrain as we initiated in the UAE to provide testing equipment to the patients. This will reduce the to-and-fro commutation for medical care,” Dr. Azad Moopen added. 

The Group will be investing around BD10 million in the next three to five years to start more clinics and a hospital. “The patients’ testing equipment can be integrated with the hospital system, with the support of a local telecom provider. We are studying the options to start this and it will be operational in due course,” he added.

Executive Director and CEO- Hospitals and Clinics, GCC, Alisha Moopen, said the health care spending in the Kingdom was predominantly concentrated on outpatient treatment and hence her group considers it as an opportunity to add more clinics, which will relieve the strain on Bahrain’s health care system. 

She added that the group would invest BD0.5 to BD0.7m on every clinic and around BD7.5m for the hospital. 

Photo Caption: Dr. Azad Moopen and Alisha Moopen