One of Israel's largest hospitals, the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, is reportedly in negotiations with medical organizations in the United Arab Emirates to discuss the setting up of a branch of the hospital in Dubai.
The idea reportedly grew out from a visit that Hadassah Medical Organization director-general Prof. Zeev Rotstein made to Dubai as part of an official Israeli delegation that met with Emirati government ministers.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
"I'm thrilled that the name of Hadassah has reached the UAE and that they want to bring Hadassah to them," said Rotstein. "I could never even have dreamed of such a thing and I pinch myself to check that it is real. They want to take Hadassah, build new homes, a series of buildings, and new equipment for our staff in Dubai."
Rotstein added that the talks are in a preliminary stage with many issues still needing to be ironed out, and said that even a concrete proposal has yet to see the light of day.
It is thought that Dubai would want to relocate 1,000 Hadassah doctors and nurses to the emirate, along with their families. Any staff that would be prepared to move would likely request generous remuneration and other conditions.
"They are offering staff amazing terms, homes, jobs, for their partners and children, free education and full healthcare.," Rotstein maintained. "They have unlimited money. We asked that they also help here in Israel but it's not certain that that's what's in mind."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Hadassah's director-general said that talk of opening a branch in Dubai was not a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Finance Ministry. He maintained that the ministry would have to decide whether "it is interested in the continued existence of Hadassah as a leading hospital in Israel, or not."
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
