THE oldest private hospital in Bahrain is set to open a number of new clinics as part of its ambitious expansion plans, it was revealed.
The not-for-profit American Mission Hospital (AMH) is opening a new BD3 million, purpose-built clinic in Saar in early
October.
It is also planning to open, early next year, another purpose-built BD1m clinic in Riffa which will become the first private facility with a hydrotherapy pool.
Other projects include two more new clinics in Juffair and Hamad Town during 2018-2019, revealed AMH chief executive and chief medical officer Dr George Cheriyan at a Press conference held yesterday at the AMH in Manama.
The Saar clinic, over a 2,500sqm built-in area, will contain a dialysis unit and house state-of-the-art facilities including dedicated units for women and children, an adult urgent care wing, radiology and laboratory.
The primary care centre with more than 100 staff members will be a 24-hour clinic by early next year and the dialysis centre will open by mid-2017.
“The small clinic run in a villa in Saar catering to families in Saar, Budaiya and Janabiya areas for the past 16 years, has become exceedingly popular – it receives close to 5,000 patients a day,” said Dr Cheriyan.
“The demand for expansion was growing and hence our decision to expand and we purchased the new building with land in Saar and have set up the purpose-built facility.
“The clinic will currently operate similar to the present ambulatory care clinic from 7.30am to 10pm with primary care facilities for families but by early next year it will be a 24-hour clinic.
“The clinic has a dedicated women’s health unit and a special paediatric unit which can accommodate up to five children for eight hours at any given time, apart from an adult urgent care unit which can accommodate eight adults for eight to 12 hours.
“Additionally, the clinic will also have a brand new dental facility with six operatories (rooms with special equipment), a fully-fledged radiology department with digital X-ray, ultrasound and a laboratory.
“We are also planning to set up a bigger physiotherapy unit.
“The clinic will have ample parking spaces for 55 cars at any given time, its own ambulance and a pharmacy.”
A new dialysis unit was also underway at the clinic, said Dr Cheriyan.
“Within the facility a separate dialysis unit is expected to be set up by the third quarter
of 2017. As we know there is a high prevalence of renal failure due to diabetes in the country and there is a long waiting list at the available facilities.”
Vision
Dr Cheriyan said the AMH management’s vision was to expand and invest in healthcare irrespective of the economic conditions.
“We will soon have a new clinic in Riffa, which will have a hydrotherapy pool, the only facility in Bahrain after King Hamad University Hospital, and then two more clinics in Juffair and Hamad Town in the coming years.
“We will also have a new MRI unit at the AMH in Manama early next year.
“Since 1902, AMH has been an excellent example of how non--profit healthcare can work with the government to provide comprehensive healthcare for all.
“Our focus will be on improving the health of the community and working alongside the government in promoting public and preventative health of the
community.
“Collaboration with teaching and research institutions within Bahrain and the US will help enhance competency of our staff and improve our capability of delivering high-quality care at affordable costs as a not-for-profit healthcare
organisation.
Legacy
“Our legacy of serving the people of Bahrain through uninterrupted healthcare for over 115 years will continue well into the future.”
The GDN reported earlier the AMH had opened its Medical and Wellness Centre in Amwaj in 2014 which offers services in primary care, paediatrics, obstetrics, ophthalmology, ENT and urgent care.
Established by Christian missionaries in 1902, the first one-room clinic of the AMH was in the Manama Suq, which later moved to the present location in
Manama.
It has three buildings, set up in 1903, 1926 and 2000, of which the 1926 building is a dedicated clinic for women and children, which is also a cultural heritage building.
The hospital now has three branches including the one in Manama.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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