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Adil Mirza’s entrepreneurial road into the UAE healthcare sector

“There are few medicines and medical equipment’s that we have introduced that are unique and that were unique at the time we introduced them to the market. Our customers were very pleased with our products. For a company that supplies pharmaceuticals and medical products to hospitals, there are mainly two things to remember. Affordable products and quality services are the keys to winning in the healthcare field,” says, Mirza

As one of the most economically developed and diversified markets in the Middle East, the UAE has a strong healthcare infrastructure. Over the past few years, the UAE Government has been dedicated to creating a örst- rate healthcare infrastructure, and as a result, the sector has advanced and expanded significantly during this time.

The UAE government swiftly took preemptive health measures after the breakout of COVID-19 in January 2020. The robust efforts of the UAE’s leadership resulted in the UAE becoming globally ranked as one of the top countries, and the highest in the Arab world, in terms of its COVID- 19 response.

The UAE healthcare sec tor has expanded in line with the nation’s evolving needs, becoming a regional medical tourism hub in the process. The COVID-19 pandemic has led the UAE to redouble its commitment to investing in healthcare.

The Healthcare Market of UAE is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 10% during 2019 to 2023 (Business Wire).

Muhammad Adil Mirza, CEO of Dubai’s Phoenix Group, had a powerful vision of his goals as an entrepreneur, took every step possible to leap forward in the world of business with his healthcare import business, propelling him forward as a serial entrepreneur in the UAE.

As a talented multipreneur he has traveled to over 40 countries so far and has earned noteworthy business affiliates on his portfolio globally, which includes top firms in the US, UK, and Europe for maintaining relationships with international affiliates and for future business development projects.

Mr. Mirza took some time out from his busy schedule to talk with Ayesha Rashid from Mediworldme about his time in the UAE healthcare industry, how the sector has evolved and his future expansion plans in the UAE.

Describe your entrepreneurial journey towards the UAE healthcare sector?

While studying in the UAE, I started a small company that supplied disposables to hospitals. Over time, I acquired knowledge about products and hired people to help me with distribution.

How are you taking healthcare sector to newer heights of success across the UAE and beyond?

During our time in the healthcare industry, we owned and operated companies with offices located in seven countries (UAE, Oman, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan). We had one distribution from all seven countries at one time. We have introduced a variety of new and innovative products that have helped each of the above countries, especially the UAE, to treat needy patients with high-class quality. We have also introduced invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures to treat patients.

Tell us in detail about the UAE healthcare sector?

In the UAE healthcare industry, standards have changed really well over time. Anywhere in the world, you can’t see a change in a short period of time. All of this has been made possible by the UAE government, which has invested time and money in companies that have introduced innovative products into an environment. All multi-national big brands of hospitals, medical centers, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are now present in the UAE. You will see a dynamic change in the UAE healthcare sector in 10 years. The reason is the introduction of healthcare insurance in the UAE. Medical tourism plays a larger role as well with exceptional training for healthcare workers, staff, and technicians. As a result, the UAE has grown steadily over the past decade and is still growing with an exceptional increase in new hospitals and healthcare facilities. As a whole, the UAE healthcare sector maintains quality.

Your major milestones in the healthcare sector?

There are few medicines and medical equipment’s that we have introduced that are unique and that were unique at the time we introduced them to the market. Our customers were very pleased with our products. For a company that supplies pharmaceuticals and medical products to hospitals, there are mainly two things to remember. Affordable products and quality services are the keys to winning in the healthcare eld.

I want to thank my devoted team for their hard work and dedication. With our great research and development team, we attend different medical conferences around the world together and at the same time develop innovative products that will develop the UAE healthcare sector.

As one of the most economically developed and diversi ed markets in the Middle East, the UAE has a strong healthcare infrastructure. The location of a world-class healthcare infrastructure is a top priority for the UAE government as a result the sector has advanced and expanded signicantly during the past few years?

The UAE government has supported all nationalities living in the country to start up healthcare companies. The government provides facilities beyond expectations. When you introduce an innovative product, the UAE government supports it. Shortly put, the UAE offers a lot of services in healthcare sectors to both international and domestic brands at the same time, and this is why everyone wants to set up here and to attract healthcare recipients and patients from the Asian regions, who would otherwise have been unable to travel to the US or any of the European countries for treatment.

In your opinion, what role does technology play in the healthcare industry?

Technology is the key to good healthcare, specifically in the UAE. Technology that provides a good environment for both doctors and patients. If you have good technology and apply it to patients, patients experience less pain and at the same time receive what they need; for example, before, when procedures were performed, a small hole was made in the body to carry on with the procedure.

In modern times, this procedure is called leprosy, and you do need to cut the patient, instead technology does that work for you. One type of surgery that is common is called Robotic surgery were doctors do not need to stand with the patients to do the procedures instead, a robot does it all from the console.

How is the UAE boosting the number of medical tourist in the country?

The UAE has become the top medical tourism destination in the Gulf and Asia. The kind of facilities, treatments and prices that a patient get in the western countries to and when compared with the UAE, is much cheaper and closer to their own home country. The UAE is also doing much marketing work that seems to work on.

For instance, if you want to focus on attracting people by selling, you need a good marketing team. The UAE government is doing a great job in building up the healthcare sector and medical tourism. This is the reason why you see a lot of foreigners and expats visiting especially from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka etc. who also live in the UAE.

What are you future plans in the healthcare sector?

Business have to evolve if they want to succeed and same goes with us. We are not manufacturers in UAE for pharmaceutical or medical devices, we are an import based company. We import from more than 45 countries and we provide quality products at an affordable price. We have an in house research and development department who continuously look for new and innovative products that are needed in the UAE market. We bring these products as an exclusive agents, we register them in the ministry of health and we introduce these products for the betterment of the country and society. Plans to start a wholesale division started almost six months back. Very soon we will have our own brand of pharmacies and medical centers. We have partnered with the countries in the Europe, USA and the local companies and we plan to introduce unique pharmaceutical molecules shortly in the UAE.