The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
ABU DHABI / WAM
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the health group rose 3.1 percent to 103 points during the first quarter as compared to the corresponding period last year, according to figures issued by Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD).
The figures showed an increase in prices of medical equipment, devices and diagnostic products of 4.7 percent during first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which mainly contributed the price hike of the health group. As for pharmaceutical products, they saw a growth of 3.4 percent during monitored period with services for out-patient services up 2.3 percent.
‘‘Prices of hospital, dental and other medical services remained unchanged during the period und-er review,’’ SCAD noted. Premium healthcare and infrastructure assets and medical tourism are integral part of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision to diversify its economy.