The Dubai Health Experience (DXH) is a programme launched by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) that aims to promote Dubai as a global centre of medical tourism with a target of attracting half a million international patients by 2020. It is estimated that numbers will increase around 13 per cent per year and that by 2021 over 1.3 million medical tourists will visit Dubai.

Last week, the DHA signed a memorandum of understanding with The Health Bank that aimed to drive medical tourism in the region. Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the Board and director-general of DHA said: “Our aim is to provide medical tourists with unparalleled end-to-end services right from research of doctors and health facilities to treatment, accommodation, translator services and post-treatment follow-up.”

“We are working closely with the health sector in the emirate to achieve this and the MoU with The Health Bank will help us further bolster our strategy to provide medical tourists with such services.”

Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, director of health regulation and Dubai Medical Tourism Project commented: “We aspire to position Dubai as the first medical tourism destination in the MENA region and to be among the top 10 medical tourism destinations in the world. The DXH will be the ultimate gateway to the finest medical experts, premier accredited health care facilities whilst providing an incredibly unique experience in the iconic city of Dubai.”

Raza Jafar, chairman of The Health Bank said, “The health bank provides each tourist seeking health care in Dubai with a single point of contact for reliable information and assistance in facilitating the logistics of their trip, health care and aftercare. Health tourists will be provided an array of services including a team of people to provide the tourists with research and assistance in electronic consolidation of all medical records, 24/7 medical help line, travel, logistics and evaluation to understand insurance options.”

Medical tourists will soon be able to see the features of The Health Bank on the DHA’s medical tourism portal, the DXH website, www.dxh.ae. Users can opt for three types of membership and consultation is free irrespective of whether the patient opts for the membership package of The Health Bank. DXH was launched in April 2016 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, as a continuation of ‘Dubai, a global destination for medical tourism’ project.