AST Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy Clinic set to expand Internationally

The AST Rehabilitation Clinic in Cork has just announced plans for a major international expansion into Saudi Arabia. Adrian and Suzanne Tanzer recently returned from the Middle East with the blueprint for this exciting new development. AST will be responsible for the establishment and management of a chain of state wide clinics for the Saudi Arabian rehabilitation programme. They will also be assisting with recruitment for physiotherapy and occupational personnel at the hospital ‘Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City,’ just north of Riyadh.

AST have formed a partnership with Mr Kussay Al-Rammah. Mr Al-Rammah has studied in the USA and is the former CEO of the medical division of Saudi Aramco, the state-owned national oil company and the largest oil corporation in the world. Oil companies in Saudi provide hospitals and medical facilities for their employees.  He was previously responsible for all medical management, plus health and safety administration for the corporation. The medical infrastructure is only beginning to develop in Saudi Arabia and Kussay is a man with a vision to bring a first class health care system to the entire Arabian Peninsula.

The importance of an informative web site played a major role in this exciting development for AST. An email arrived in the inbox of info@ astphysiotherapy.com last year from Kussay Al-Rammah with a business proposal. How many of us would have binned that mail as thrash?

Speaking on his return to Cork, Adrian Tanzer described how AST would be operating the new Saudi venture. “Initially, four treatment centres, catering for up to 300 patients per day, will be set up in different communities around the peninsula. These will be located in the provinces of Ad Damman in the Eastern Region, Riyadh in central Ar Riyad region, Jeddah in Makkah and Ha’il to the north.” Adrian went on to note, “With his well established connections in Saudi Arabia, our partner, Kussay Al-Rammah, will act as the liaison between AST and the relevant authorities, such as health boards and the planning authorities. Kussay’s role will be to source appropriate properties for the clinics and to obtain the necessary planning permissions, etc.  AST, on the other hand, will be responsible for the recruitment and training of staff for the new clinics and the Humanitarian City. In partnership with Sven Conrad, MD of Secona Conrad GmbH, they will also be responsible for the design layout of the clinics the provision of all medical equipment.”

Adrian and Suzanne were overwhelmed by the friendliness of their new Saudi associates. The reality of their visit was not at all like what they had been told to expect. They really enjoyed being invited into the homes of their new friends and experienced traditional foods and the family culture of the region – an unusual gesture for Westerners in Saudi. Adrian’s enthusiasm for this development is contagious and he is adamant that concepts such as these should be embraced by other Irish businesses to expand abroad during these difficult times in Ireland.

As well as excursions to see the historical sites of Saudi with Mr. Al-Rammah, Adrian and Suzanne visited three rehabilitation clinics in Ad-Dammam, ranging from a private clinic, to semi private and to a public clinic. They were also invited by the Dr. Abdulaziz A. Al Shamekh, CEO of the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City to visit the hospital complex. “Treatments at the Humanitarian City were at the same level of quality as in Europe,” noted Adrian. “This complex was stunning; it is a non-profit 400 bed hospital supported by the King, and at one million square metres, is the biggest private hospital in the world!” While at the complex, Adrian met the executive Director of Clinical Affairs, Abdullah H. Bin Zarah, Mazen H. Al- Humaidan and Engr. Hamad A. Aloumi, the Director of Support Services and Abdul Rahman.  Humanitarian City will be one of the biggest referrals for the new AST Rehabilitation Clinics.

Work has already commenced on the project and AST have begun to recruit medical staff for both the new clinics and the Humanitarian City Hospital. Personnel will be recruited from Ireland, Europe and North America. In addition to pre-paid tickets, successful candidates will have free accommodation in the specially planned estates for Westerners in Riyadh. Adrian will be returning to Saudi in January to check out the premises for the first clinic which AST plan to open next March/April.

AST continue to provide rehabilitation and physiotherapy therapies at their clinic in Rushbrooke in Cobh and have now gained world wide recognition for their standards of excellence.

Links:

AST Physiotherapy Clinic, Rushbrooke, Cork

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City

Secona Conrad GmbH,

For further information please contact:

Margot Mulcahy info@mdmpr.com

MDMpr

Tel. 021 4812382 or Mobile 086 8045468