Region's first health economics college opens in Ajman

A view newly open block for College of Healthcare Management and Economics at Gulf Medical University in Ajman - Photo by M. Sajjad

A college that specialises in healthcare management and economics - the first of its kind in the region - opened in Ajman on Sunday. Enrolment has also started for the spring semester.
The new College of Healthcare Management and Economics at Gulf Medical University (GMU) aims to equip managers and policymakers with the right skills that can help them succeed in the rapidly changing and highly competitive healthcare industry, said Hossam Hamdy, chancellor of GMU.
"The college has been established in view of the huge expansion of the healthcare industry in the region and worldwide," Hamdy said at the college's launch on Sunday.
He said that according to a 2018 GCC Healthcare Industry Report by Alpen Capital, the current health expenditure in the GCC is projected to reach US$104.6 billion by 2022, from an estimated US$76.1 billion in 2017. The region may also require a collective bed capacity of 118,295 by 2022, indicating a demand for 12,358 new beds.
To keep up with these needs, 700 new healthcare projects worth US$60.9 billion are under way across the region, Hamdy said.
All these signify a spike in demand for expert professionals in healthcare management, economics, technology assessment, informatics, medical insurance, and medical tourism, he added.
Offering bachelor's and master's programmes tailored to the current needs of the industry, the college is the first specialised academic institution of its kind in the Middle East.
Among the two degrees available at the college is Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics, a four-year programme designed to graduate professionals with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry, along with its language and unique culture.
The Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics, on the other hand, is a 12-month programme for middle to senior-level professionals in the industry, an option for those who would want to improve their career prospects and widen their networks.
Hamdy said the programmes are offered in collaboration with international universities such as the University of Milan, University of Arizona, American University of Cairo and University of Central Florida, among others.
The college also has strong ties with industry partners in the UAE and the GCC, as well as in India, US and Africa, he added.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com