Starcare Group to open 100-bed hospital in Barka

Starcare will also launch its successful brand of Cuddles Birthing Centre in Barka to offer much needed special care to women and children

MUSCAT: Starcare Group, Oman has announced the project launch of its largest hospital in the country with 100 beds featuring 25 specialities to start with.

Starcare will also launch its successful brand of Cuddles Birthing Centre in Barka to offer much needed special care to women and children. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Starcare and Salim Saed Al Malki, Shura Council Member, Barka to prepare the building, which is expected to complete works by the end of 2017 and open to public.

Starcare Cuddles Birthing centre is a comprehensive maternity care centre that gives women the luxury, comfort and safety of full time midwives lead maternity service that Starcare is known for. This first private hospital in Barka with a capacity of 100 beds when completed, apart from Cuddles Birthing centre, will feature three state-of-art modern operating rooms, intensive care units, 24 hours laboratory and 20 outpatient consultation rooms.

Moreover, the hospital will have the first MRI scan and 4 D ultrasound scans in the region, which can be used by both private and public sector patients. The first batch of specialities include 24 hour Urgent care, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, ophthalmology, ENT, dentistry, women’s health centre with focus on obstetrics and gynaecology and breast care, orthopaedics and sports medicine, spine surgery, physiotherapy, paediatrics, aesthetic centre with dermatology, cosmetology, plastic surgery, cardiology and gastroenterology.

Speaking on the occasion of the project launch Dr Sadik Kodakat, chairman of Starcare Group said, “Barka has seen a huge population growth recently and people are now travelling to Muscat and Rustaq for hospital care. We initially planned for a maternity focused hospital, but several of our local friends from Barka and our own staff convinced us to establish a fully fledged hospital that caters to all types of healthcare needs and looking at the response that we are getting, I am happy that we listened to them.”

Attending the press conference, Salim Saed Al Malki said, “Healthcare is a noble profession and being able to be a part of this venture gives me immense satisfaction. People of Barka have been looking forward to a facility such as this for a long time.”

Dr Askar Kukkadi, managing director of Starcare Group, Oman commented, “Oman is a lovely country with lovely people. Today’s announcement is about our commitment to improve the reach of our quality services. With the vision of His Majesty and ministries alike to support private sector, all of us - including public, other hospitals, corporates, insurance companies and health planners have a responsibility of building a safe and advanced healthcare system in Oman.