The Zulekha Healthcare Group, with two hospitals in the UAE, now plans to set up clinics in all the emirates. The new Zulekha Hospital in Dubai commenced functioning last week in Al Nahda. City Times talked to the husband-wife team of Taher Shams and Zanubia Shams, ...

President and Chief Executive Officer respectively of the group, on its new venture, and future plans...

Now that the Dubai hospital has started functioning, what is more in store?

TS: We have phase 2 expansion plans for the Dubai hospital including a Cardiac Catheterization Lab in association with world famous cardiologist Dr Fayaz Shawl. The hospital will also go in for ISO certification to match world-class quality standards even as the group is looking forward to setting up international ties-ups with world-class institutions to leverage on mutual strengths and offer the best healthcare. We also intend to start clinics and pharmacies in all the emirates.

What are your feelings on the opening of the new hospital?

TS: It definitely makes us happy. It reminds us of our responsibility. The real test will come now.

ZS: It is a milestone. Our founder Dr Zulekha Daud had started work in Sharjah as a young medical graduate in 1961. Today with two hospitals, there's a great sense of satisfaction and yearning to do more...to serve better.

How is Zulekha hospital, especially the new one at Dubai different?

TS: The real differentiation is in the execution. And that's where we bring to focus our philosophy of 'continuous improvement'. We have to translate what we say into action in everyday running of the hospital. Our focus is to 'do it'.

ZS: Hospitals are a special service and we believe that we should be able to give the best treatment, which is well within the reach of the man on the street.

What services would the new hospital offer?

TS: It is a 75 bedded multi-speciality centre. We have an excellent team of doctors and support staff. They form the core of our operations apart from the equipment and other facilities that we have installed. We have super-speciality departments like Cardiology and Neurology to speciality departments like Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Paediatrics. There are 24 hours emergency services including ambulance, pharmacy and trauma care.

What are the special features?

ZS: To reduce 'patient waiting time' the hospital has 'multiple consultant doctors' in each speciality. The hospital also has a unique Modular Operating room to minimise hospital acquired infection. Our laboratories have been fitted for pneumatic transfer of lab specimen to help get investigation results at the earliest for doctors to take quick and correct decisions. Our IT enabled service would also ensure that processes such as patient registration, maintenance of medical records and administrative procedures become more efficient.

The hospital has a vibrant and healthy feel about it. What aspects were looked into while designing the interiors of the hospital?

ZS: That's what we had in mind when we set out to design the hospital. We hired a professional firm for that reason. We want our patients to feel good...feel healthy. We have used colours that have a healthy glow. So much of a patient's healing is also psychological. I won't go to the extent to say that they should feel like coming back (laughs), but yes we want them to feel rejuvenated when they go out of our premises. Those who accompany the patients and those who visit them are also important. We have a library, a cafeteria and we are starting an internet kiosk.

Will you be focusing more on the Dubai hospital than on the Sharjah one?

TS: Certainly not. We will not be compromising on the attention we give to our hospital in Sharjah. That is where we started off. It was the success of the Zulekha hospital in Sharjah that has made us venture out. This is a new establishment. It will require a different sort of focus. As I said earlier, we are keen on the task ahead. We have competent teams taking care of both the establishments.

What are the other establishments that you have and what do you mean when you talk about your core values?

ZS: Let me answer the second question first. Our core values can be summed up in one sentence as stated by our founder Dr Zulekha Daud — "Beyond the technology, besides the specialists, something more is there — the magic of a caring touch". We want to imbibe and practice that everyday in all our ventures. As far as other establishments are concerned, right now we have medical centres in Dhaid, Karama and Qusais along with pharmacies in Dubai and Sharjah.

How are you planning to promote the new hospital?

TS: Today, if the Zulekha name is able to inspire trust and faith amongst people, it's because of what they have experienced. It's going to be our performance that will decide our success. Our patients will give the verdict. We would be continuing our regular promotions. We also have special schemes for corporate clients. We have tie-ups with all major insurance companies. We have an excellent marketing team, which handles all this, and they will take it forward.