The healthcare of the future will be unique, convenient and on our own terms,” says Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman & Managing Director, VPS Healthcare. In an interview with Omnia Health Magazine, the healthcare pioneer discusses the changing healthcare landscape in the region and how, as data becomes more extensive, providers such as VPS Healthcare will be able to use this information to enhance the overall patient experience.
VPS Healthcare has become one of the most dynamic healthcare companies in the region, spanning six countries, 24 hospitals, over 125 medical centres, more than 15,000 employees and one of the largest pharmaceutical U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)-certified manufacturing plants in the UAE.
Dr. Vayalil said: “As emerging markets achieve growth, there is a pressing need for them to build sustainable healthcare systems. World-class economies like the UAE need the best health services to cater to populations who potentially face increased lifestyle and wellness issues. In this new landscape, there is an urgent need for affordable and accessible services, without compromising on quality.” Excerpts from the interview:
Connectivity for better healthcare delivery is the theme of Arab Health 2020. What would you say is the current impact of connectivity on the delivery of healthcare?
With the increased use of technology and data, we are seeing the emergence of new trends that have the potential of changing the medical experiences for patients and providers. In this fast-paced, and increasingly connected world, on-demand is becoming a habit rather than a feature. The availability of reliable, efficient and affordable services will help strengthen trust in the healthcare system. As an example, the use of telemedicine technology, including teleradiology can allow doctors to engage with patients and provide services, irrespective of their geographic location. This not only reduces the need for in-person services, but also drives efficiency across the medical ecosystem.
What different innovative products and solutions will you be bringing to the show?
We are planning to present a unique healthcare platform that combines a Software as a service (SaaS) model and approach for critical services like electronic health records and revenue cycle management, among others. This pay-per-use service will reduce the financial and technical barrier of entry for many hospitals and clinics for these cost and resource-intensive services. Our purpose is to provide patients and providers access to reliable healthcare round-the-clock. We are confident that our solutions will help support an efficient and integrated delivery system that avoids unnecessary wastage of healthcare resources.
What, according to you, are the healthcare trends to watch out for in 2020?
The healthcare of the future will be unique, convenient and on our own terms. As data becomes more extensive, providers such as VPS Healthcare will be able to use this information to enhance the overall patient experience. These types of technologies offer safer, faster and more tailored treatments. They harness the power of collective data for the individual, achieving a far greater degree of personalisation in medicine than has ever been possible before. Our challenge will be to make these innovations affordable and accessible.
Could you shed light on your future plans.
Earlier last year, LIFEPharma, VPS Healthcare’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali, which is the country’s sole facility certified by the USFDA, signed a 10-year contract worth AED 200 million to produce a billion pills for export to North America. This represents an important milestone in the strategy to make the UAE a global hub for knowledge-based, sustainable and innovative industries. We believe that this is a stepping stone for us to produce complex therapeutics right here in the UAE for local and international markets.
State-of-the-art facility
VPS Healthcare will also soon be launching the 400-bed Burjeel Medical City (BMC) that is designed to be a hub for tertiary and quaternary oncology treatment for adult and paediatric subspecialties, long-term and palliative care (including immunotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies). It is being positioned to be a world leader in cancer genomics research and its translation into actionable clinical tests and for biomarker-driven drug development. The hospital is equipped with advanced radiotherapy and radiosurgery equipment. This includes two linear accelerators and Brachytherapy facility, with space for a Gamma Knife. In addition, the hospital will have advanced Radiology Diagnostics that include SPECT CT, two CT scanners and a simulation CT in radiotherapy department. To complete the diagnostics, there are two advanced MRIs, with an intraoperative MRI that will be another unique system in BMC. This will facilitate minimal invasive stereotactic biopsies and ensure complete surgical removal of tumours. To achieve these goals, the hospital is supported by advanced laboratory and diagnostic facilities. These include advanced molecular and genetic testing, Stem Cell preparation and therapy, apheresis and HLA matching.
