Hub for medical tourism in Dubai

by Maria Klaas | Jun 16, 2019 | News

Dubai hub for medical tourism and innovative health start-ups

Hospital for the Future in Dubai — photo: M. Klaas
Hospital for the Future at Arab Health, Dubai

16.06.2019 – DUBAI. The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who is also Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has the vision to develop Dubai into a global hub for medical tourism. Therefore, medical tourists from all over the world should not only be treated by internationally recognized specialists, but Dubai should also become of great importance for innovative health start-ups with a focus on smart-health.

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Latest Insights

(Aug 24) Roland Berger Hospital Study 2024 in Germany. Larger hospitals expect a positive development in the coming years. Smaller hospitals are rather pessimistic about the future. According to the study, mergers could be a solution. (in German)
(Aug 24) BfArM publishes three important special information sheets on the subject of "Medical devices/MDR" (in German): Reporting channels according to MDR, IVDR, MPDG , Application for special authorisation, Special authorisation of medical devices
(July 24) New MDCG guideline on the clinical evaluation of orphan devices
(July 24) According to the current Hospital Rating Report 2024, 10% of hospitals are in the "red zone" with an increased risk of insolvency.
(June 24) According to the spring survey of the Hospital Index of the German Hospital Institute (DKI) (in German) 61% of German general hospitals rate their current economic situation as poor (40%) or very poor (21%). The reason for this is the forthcoming Hospital Care Improvement Act (KHVVG)
(Jan 24) TÜV Süd BABT Unlimited is an approved UK Aproved Body (UKAB) for Part III of the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 for Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMD). Manufacturers can now obtain both UKCA and CE certification from TÜV Süd at the lysame time.
(Jan 24) Expansion of the AOP catalogue by the GKV-Spitzenverband
(Jan 24) Eudamed: the mandatory use of the UDI/Medical Devices Registration and Certificates/Notified Bodies modules has been postponed from Q1 2026 to Q2 2029
(Jan 24) 43 Notified Bodies in 18 countries are now accredited. Currently there are 10 each in Italy and Germany, 3 in the Netherlands; in addition, two each in Finland, Poland and Czech Republic and one each in Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, France, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,Turkey, Ireland, Croatia and Cyprus. Nando database
(Jan 24) New guidelines and documents from the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) from December 2023: 1) MDCG 2023-5 Guidance on qualification and classification of Annex XVI Products A guide for manufacturers and notified bodies and MDCG 2023-6 Guidance on demonstration of equivalence for Annex XVI products A guide for manufacturers and notified bodies, 2) MDCG 2021-6 Rev. 1 Regulation (EU) 2017/745 – Questions & Answers regarding clinical investigation, 3) MDCG 2021-27 – Rev.1, 4) MDCG 2023-7
(Aug 23) Swissdamed (Swiss Database on Medical): ACT module, available from the beginning of 2024 for the registration of companies; registration of products via UDI module, available from summer 2024.
(Aug 23) TÜV Süd, Germany also UK Approved Body (UKAB) for medical devices. Current list of UKAB according to the UK Government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
(May 23) The Medical Device Regulation Group (MDCG) published guidance on 12 May 2023 on the significant changes to the transitional provision under Article 120 of the MDR
(May 23) Great Britain decides to extend the deadline for CE marking of medical devices according to MDR. From July 2025, the new legal framework is to apply
(March 23) Transition periods for the approval of medical devices in Europe now legally extended.
- May 2026: Custom-made medical devices (Class III).
- December 2027: Higher-risk medical devices (non-exempt Class IIb implants and Class III medical devices)
- December 2028: Low-risk medical devices (Class IIa, Ir, Im, Is).
(March 23) Current information from BfArM on the German Medical Devices Information Database System (DMDIS), "Clinical Investigations/Performance Evaluations" module for all user groups (as of Jan. 30, 2023)
(Jan 23) Manufacturers of digital care applications (DiPA) can now apply directly to the BfArM for inclusion of their application in the DiPA directory via a digital application portal
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(Dec 22) According to. MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), the United Kingdom will continue to recognise the CE mark for medical devices until 30 June 2024. Previously, 30.6.2023 was planned.
(Nov 22) According to the Roland Berger study "Global MedTech-How to succeed in uncertain times", the medical technology industry is struggling with high energy costs, rising inflation and supply chain problems. Solutions are offered by digitalisation, more benefit-based billing models and the shift towards personalised medicine.
(Nov 22) Facts&Figures 2022 from MedTech Europe, the European trade association for the medical technology industry
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(June 22) studies published by the German Society for Biomedical Engineering in the VDE (VDE DGBMT)
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2. "Approval of medical implants according to the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR)".
(June 22) the EU Commission published a document in June 22 for the IVDR: "Harmonised administrative practices and alternative technical solutions until EUDAMED is fully operational".
(June 22) The Interest Group for Medical Devices in Germany (IG-NB) has published 2 guides on the topics of
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(April 22) Distinction between medical devices and medicinal products: Guidance document MDCG 2022 of the Medical Devices Coordination Group
GTAI has created a special page on sanctions and the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
Internet platform for medical needs in Ukraine by the German initiative Medical Bridge.eu
European industry association for digital assistive technology DATEurope founded in early 2021. DAT includes aids for communication, for the blind and visually impaired, for environmental control, assistive call systems, software tools and robotics.
New web portal for the list of medical aids according to §139 SGB V of the GKV-Spitzenverband: for reference and online application
Overview of all assessments of new examination and treatment methods (NUB) by the G-BA
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EU-implementation regulation for the reprocessing of disposable products, valid from 26 May 2021
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In-vitro-diagsnostics must be re-evaluated according to the new IVDR by 26 May 2022.
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