PureHealth, the UAE’s largest health group, has achieved a significant breach by entering the U.K. market. The Abu Dhabi-based company has signed a strategic agreement to acquire Circle Health Group, one of the U.K.’s largest independent hospital operators, in a deal worth $1.2 billion.
PureHealth includes a range of healthcare providers in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), National Health Insurance Company (Daman), Pure Lab, a network of laboratories, Rafid, the Group’s procurement company, and the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, which leads stem cell research in the UAE.
Circle Health Group is the largest national network operating private hospitals in the UK.
Under the agreement, Circle Health Group will become part of the PureHealth Group.
The acquisition of Circle Health Group is part of PureHealth’s global expansion strategy, including previous acquisitions in the United States, as well as entry into other international markets, according to a statement issued by the company on Monday evening.
Under the agreement, PureHealth will acquire 100 percent of Circle Health Group’s overall portfolio, which includes specialties such as orthopedics, oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, ophthalmology, neurosurgery and general surgery, as well as state-of-the-art hospitals that Circle Health Group has recently focused on building, including the U.K.’s first specialist rehabilitation hospital.
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Data published on the U.K.’s Office for National Statistics website indicates that in 2020, healthcare spending in the country accounted for 12 percent of GDP, compared to about 10 percent in 2019.
U.K. healthcare spending grew by around 16 percent in nominal terms in 2020, or 10 percent in real terms, with inflation adjusted. This was the fastest growth rate recorded during the time series, which began in 1997, according to the government agency.
In January last year, Abu Dhabi Holding signed a deal to merge its healthcare subsidiaries, including Abu Dhabi Health Services
Company (SEHA) and National Health Insurance Company (Daman) with Alpha Abu Dhabi Pure Health to create the largest healthcare provider in the UAE.
The company merged Kayan Healthcare, Rafid and Union 71 with Pure Health in 2021.
Hamad Al Ameri, Managing Director and CEO of Alpha Abu Dhabi Holding said: “This acquisition is an important milestone for our company PureHealth Holding, and we are confident that this step will support our continued growth and success.”
Farhan Malak, Managing Director and CEO of PureHealth, said: “PureHealth’s mission is to drive scientific innovation to extend youth and improve quality of life. By combining the expertise of both groups, we are positively impacting the lives of patients globally.”
Sarah London, Chief Executive of Centene, said: “Circle Health Group is an innovative healthcare group with a significant positive impact on patients across the UK. We are confident that its operations will continue to flourish – providing access to high-quality care and delivering improved clinical outcomes under the Pure Health umbrella. This transaction marks another milestone in the review of our portfolio and demonstrates continued momentum under our value-added plan.”
Circle Health Group has more than 8,200 dedicated employees and 6,500 consultants working in 60 specialties in more than 50 hospitals across the Kingdom, boasts more than 150 operating rooms, records more than two million visits annually, and generates revenues of more than $1.3 billion.
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