Thumbay Medicity: Shaping the Future of Medical Education, Healthcare & Research

Thumbay is, undoubtedly, emerging as the trusted name when it comes to healthcare. Its services are in pursuit of excellence and, moreover, its infrastructure is one of the best in the UAE. There are numerous achievements

that the Thumbay Group has attained in the healthcare sector, including the first private medical university in the region, the Gulf Medical University. The GMU is a success story in itself, and could not have been possible without the dynamic and selfless leadership of Dr. Thumbay Moideen. Last but not the least, state-of the-art equipment, accomplished professionals and the spirit to lead from the front has made it invincible.

Thumbay’s origin is no less than a fairytale. It all started boiling down to an equation as Dr. Thumbay Moideen, while on a transit in Dubai, happened to rub shoulders with a member of the royal family of Ajman. Dr. Thumbay’s words of wisdom on medical services for Ajman travelled to the court of His Highness, the Ruler of Ajman. Since then there is no looking back, as Dr. Thumbay became the bastion of change for the emirate of Ajman and the UAE in the health sector, and his vision has won it an undeniable edge in the entire region, as Thumbay healthcare services go from strength to strength.

Thumbay today has a network of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, and an articulate plan at work to make the UAE the hub for medical tourism. Thumbay has its eye on overseas expansion, and already has a hospital in Hyderabad-India, as well as upcoming hospitals in Oman, Qatar and Africa, in addition to more hospitals in the UAE and India. The 500-bed Thumbay University Hospital in Ajman and their vision is to have 1,000 beds in the UAE, becoming the largest private academic hospital network in the region. Its other amazing strides in healthcare are Thumbay Dental Hospital and Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital.

The GMU and its network of teaching hospitals train 20 per cent of the doctors and 60 per cent of the total healthcare professionals. The GMU, founded in 1998, is rapidly emerging as the focal point for international medical students from more than 80 countries, and offers various programmes like Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Degree in Pre-Clinical Sciences, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Health Science in Anesthesia and Surgical Technology, as well as Bachelor of Science courses in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Imaging Sciences and Nursing. This is in addition to the Masters programs in Public Health and Physical Therapy. In other words, as Thumbay envisages promoting medical tourism, the GMU and its state- of-the-art research facilities act as a magnet to attract students and patients, alike, and are playing the role of a catalyst in buoying the UAE’s image as the centre for medical tourism. This is why the Gulf Medical University is ranked among the top 50 medical universities in the Middle East, and bagged Gold at the prestigious Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards, 2018.

(Thumbay Medicity to treat 20,000 per day)

The point to cheer is that the GMU’s Academic Healthcare System links the healthcare, medical education and research functions on its own, and is proudly indigenous in essence. The UAE is proud to boast Thumbay and GMU as the locally inculcated icons of healthcare in the 21st century, and are part of worldwide research and innovation by virtue of its accreditation and affiliation with the who’s who in medicare. Thumbay enjoys JCI accreditation for its hospitals, CAP-accredited laboratories as well as multiple prestigious acknowledgments from world’s reputed research and healthcare institutions, as says Prof. Hossam Hamdy, the internationally renowned medical educator and pediatric surgeon.

There are six colleges and three institutes under the flagship of Gulf Medical University: the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, the Thumbay Institute for Population Health and the Thumbay Institute of Health Workforce Development. They cater to a whole range of teaching necessities, including research, post-graduation studies and continuous professional development. The new colleges of GMU include the only colleges in the Middle East region for Healthcare Management and Health Economics. The University also has a new College of Nursing. GMU’s unique programs also include the joint and dual masters programs in Medical Education and Public Health. This aspect makes Thumbay the brand identity when it comes to treatment, healthcare and academic excellence.

It is no secret that Thumbay has made inroads not only in the UAE as a preferred and reliable healthcare system, but is also valued across the region, where it is busy imprinting its mark. Research is the hallmark of Thumbay and the Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine is a case in point. The intention is to expand the scope of collaboration between the faculty, students, the industry, as well as the host of hospitals under it. Thumbay is not merely a hospital or a clinic facility where you are treated, but a valued umbrella of health system that devotes its synergies for the betterment of medicine and professionals, and has a roadmap for quality medical education and comprehensive clinical care.

Thumbay as a matter of concept while delivering health services, as well as imparting education to its medical students and researchers, looks at the whole spectrum as an ‘industry’. An aspect that is interrelated and one which is intended to respond to the needs and necessities of the future. The GMU offers more than 15 programmes and enjoys a robust collaboration with a number of prestigious universities around the world, such as the University of Arizona, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee - USA, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy in Connecticut, German Heidelberg University, American University in Cairo, University of Ghana, Medical University of Lublin, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, etc., as well as research institutes such as the Gustave Rossi Cancer Research Institute – France.

(Gulf Medical University)

“The Gulf Medical University is the medical university of the future,” Prof. Hamdy prides. The reason is simple: Thumbay has a vision to transform GMU to a research-based university by 2025. Thumbay’s Precision Medicine Institute has made great leaps forward, and Prof. Hamdy says it is getting closer and closer towards discovering a new form of medicine and therapy for cancer patients. Diversifying treatment patterns is part of the research. This will be no less than a miracle for Thumbay and GMU, as well as a feather in the cap for the UAE, as it has made it a cornerstone of its policy to lead from the front when it comes to innovation and building a welfare state.

The investment that Thumbay Group has done in the healthcare sector is future- oriented, as is merely not intended for timely patient-satisfaction. Rather, it has a complete roadmap for developing future health professionals, erecting a sound infrastructure and making research and innovation as the pinnacle of its manifesto as it goes on to serve the UAE, the region and beyond.

Building a unique, futuristic healthcare model

Dr. Thumbay Moideen’s passion for state-of-the-art healthcare facilities with a strong focus on research and medical tourism drives the growth and success of Thumbay Group

(Dr Thumbay Moideen, Thumbay Group Founder Chairman)

Dr. Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Thumbay Group, believes in articulating his views for a broader perspective for all, and that too in a humble manner. Creating a state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure is his dream, and he sets no instant hallmarks as he goes on to build the UAE’s first local medical university and healthcare facilities known for their meticulous services.

In an exclusive interview with Vartha Bharati, Dr. Thumbay says, “We stand apart as we dispense medical services, and are one of the best. We are involved in a whole range of healthcare-related issues comprising from treating patients to teaching doctors and indulging in professional research. No one can match us.

Though we may not be as big as others, we are invincible.” He says the UAE is an amazing country, and one which is full of opportunities for all. “At Thumbay we are busy erecting an effective and reliable network of healthcare services ranging from hospitals to clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, where patients can repose their trust.”

For Dr. Thumbay sky is the limit, as he keeps himself engrossed with developmental issues, and envisages them in a manner that is top-notch when it comes to competition. According to Thumbay Group’s strategic plans, the Thumbay academic hospital network will have a total of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and Africa by 2022, in addition to establishing three new University campuses in different countries..

“We are working with the UAE authorities to make it an indispensable hub for healthcare tourism in the region. Our healthcare pattern differentiates from others. It is comprehensive, innovative and more so indigenous,” Dr. Thumbay remarked.

“The UAE brings in brands as a model of excellence. We will be the only locally born. Our overseas expansion plans are a pride for the UAE.” He says the focus is on medical tourism, to attract patients from Africa, Iran, India, Bangladesh and elsewhere in the region.”

Dr. Thumbay talks about his ‘MediCity’ in Ajman, where more than 20,000 people will always be around, as it caters to general public with a medical university campus, housing facilities for staff, faculty and students, as well as a hospital and other medicare accessories.

When asked how and what kind of role he plays, a modest Dr. Thumbay says, “I’m just a facilitator, my goal is to see success achieved and the lofty objectives we have set are met. I have a great team, and they are good leaders in their individual capacity. We brainstorm on a regular basis, and I try to facilitate things at my end. It goes without saying that the project is close to my heart.”

Pursuing excellence through innovation

Building the region’s best healthcare infrastructure that is automated in essence is at the center of Akbar Moideen Thumbay’s outlook

Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Thumbay Group Vice Chairman

(Health Service) and management board member

Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice-President Healthcare Division and Board Member Thumbay Group, is exceptionally articulate as he spells out his workaholic agenda for a second-to-none future for Thumbay. He looks after one of the fastest growing networks of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories in the region, which is proudly part of the only private academic hospital in the UAE. “The only teaching hospital of the UAE is our signature identity, and we pride in it. Our doctors not only treat patients, but also teach and indulge in professional excellence through research activity at the Gulf Medical University.”

Having started with one medical facility in Ajman in 2002, Thumbay has come a long way. He defines the theme as a ‘Unitary Hospital’ equipped with services such as dentistry, rehabilitation, home care, etc. Akbar Moideen pointed out that promoting medical tourism is Thumbay’s destiny. “Our representative offices are in 87 countries to promote UAE as the hub for healthcare and medical tourism. Presently, we are attracting an average of more than 10 international patients daily, whereas the gigantic target is 1,000 patients per day.”

The vice-president highlighted the factors that are graciously leading to potential healthcare system in the UAE, such as mandatory health insurance in Dubai, which will soon also be a must in Northern Emirates. Moreover, the government’s largesse in visa issuance for international patients in a couple of hours has buoyed medical tourism. When asked as to how Thumbay has made inroads, he says: “Access of people toThumbay is increasing. We are connecting the world to the UAE, and this is the biggest difference that Thumbay has accomplished in medical tourism.” Akbar says technology is the key to success and innovation, and at Thumbay special efforts have been made to enrich the services by making use of artificial intelligence, and inducting appropriate modern technology. “We have the most hi-tech MRIs, Pet Scan, and will soon have a robotic pharmacy, as well as laboratories where samples can be tested in two minutes.” He says the whole data infrastructure shall be linked, which will enable better diagnosis for health professionals by making use of automation, latest inventions in medicine and pharmacy. “Our entire network shall be based on a single ID format. Moreover, we have a company catering to the latest technology for Thumbay; and the concept is to become a paperless hospital. The goal is to achieve HIMSS level of 7.”

He proudly recalls the first of its kind 50-bed rehabilitation hospital, and a similar50-bed unit dedicated for long-term healthcare for special patients and an innovative therapeutic garden to help healing in a unique way.

We differentiate ourselves in the full spectrum of medical education.

— Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University

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