Aster to open seventh clinic at AI Gharafa

Aster Medical Centre, a division of Aster DM Healthcare, will open its seventh clinic at AI Gharafa next week as part of a major expansion of facilities and services. The new 50-bed Aster Hospital in Old Airport area is expected to open next month.
Aster Medical Centre in AI Gharafa will officially open on January 11, and initially offer a comprehensive range of healthcare services including general medicine, ENT, obstetrics and gynaecology and endocrinology.  The services will be expanded in the coming months including paediatrics, a fully fledged diagnostic centre equipped with advanced radiology department and clinical laboratories, said Dr Sameer Moopen, CEO, Aster DM Healthcare – Qatar, speaking at a press conference, yesterday. Also, a new pharmacy will open adjoining the AI Gharafa medical centre, which will function as Aster’s flagship pharmacy in Qatar.
“At Aster, we believe that quality healthcare must be readily available and accessible to every locality and community, whether residential or industrial. By opening a new medical centre in AI Gharafa, we have taken a step towards it,” said Dr Moopen.
“This is our seventh medical centre in Qatar. It will also have an external pharmacy managed by the retail division of the Aster group which has around 200 pharmacies in the GCC. It’s going to be our flagship pharmacy in Qatar. The centre will start with five doctors and additional specialties and a full-fledged laboratory and radiology facility will be included soon. At present we have a sample collection centre and samples will be sent to our clinics either on C Ring Road or Hilal and the reports will be received online,” he added.
The new medical centre is aimed at serving various communities residing in and around AI Gharafa and has Arab and non Arab doctors at the clinic.
Offering a diverse and all-inclusive range of medical services, the new clinic is located on Abdul Rahman Bin Awf street near the Immigration office in AI Gharafa.
Marking the celebration of Aster’s 30 years compassionate care in the Middle East, the expansion is part of the Group’s aim to widen its reach across the region. It has approximately 300 facilities across the Middle East region, India and the Philippines. In Qatar, Aster operates seven medical centres, seven pharmacies and one diagnostic centre in different parts of the country.
The new 50-bed Aster Hospital in Old Airport area is expected to open in February.
“The hospital work is complete, the initial assessment by the Ministry of Public Health is now being done. We should be able to know about the assessment within a week or ten days. If any changes are required, we will have to do it. Hopefully we will be able to have a soft opening in February,” said Dr Moopen.
Aster DM healthcare services is assisting patients from Qatar who intend to receive specialized treatment or surgeries at its hospitals in the UAE and India.
On an average, two to three patients including Qataris and Indians are benefiting from the service, said Dr Sameer Moopen, CEO, Aster DM Healthcare – Qatar yesterday.
Besides the treatment, all other facilities for the patient will be arranged by the Aster DM healthcare services in the destination country. “Now we have a help desk at our office to facilitate patients who wish to receive treatment in our hospitals in other countries. We have a very good response from patients and many people have come and asked about the hospitals and facilities. On an average two or three in a week including Indian and many Qatari patients,” said Dr Moopen. “We will soon have a official launch of the service and a person will be assigned at the Aster Medical Centre in Hilal to coordinate and do the arrangements for the patients,” he added.
Most patients seeking services at their hospitals in other countries including for conditions such as cancer, orthopaedic problems, renal disorder and organ transplant.