UAE healthcare major mulls new strategy for future Gulf expansion after pandemic blow

UAE healthcare major mulls new strategy for future Gulf expansion after pandemic blow

UAE-based healthcare major Aster is looking at changing tack on its expansion plans in the GCC with an asset light model with buildings being constructed by third parties.

Aster, which currently runs about 350 healthcare facilities across seven countries, will also scout for opportunities for O&M (operate and manage) models of hospitals for its long-term growth plans in the region.

“The onset of the pandemic led to a dip in business which is why we have had to postpone some of our pipeline projects. Now that we are slowly witnessing a recovery, we shall continue to explore our expansion plans (in the GCC region) with an asset light model with buildings being constructed by third parties,” Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman and managing director, Aster DM Healthcare, told Arabian Business.

Dr Azad Moopen wants to focus more on long-term growth plans for the company

He said Aster has been re-negotiating rentals of its facilities across the UAE and other markets in the GCC in the aftermath of the pandemic which hit non-coronavirus treatments and procedures hard at hospitals and clinics in the early months of the outbreak.

The group has also closed down some of the mall-based clinics and pharmacies in the Middle East region