APRIL 7th marks World Health Day, an initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of prevalent global health issues that require action and impact driven change collectively from around the globe.

Universal health coverage is WHO’s number one goal and theme for this year’s World Health Day with the aim of ensuring that everyone can obtain the care they need, when they need it, right in the heart of their community.

Makarem Batterjee, Vice Chairman and Deputy President of the Saudi German Hospitals Group (SGH Group), President of Gold’s Gym franchise in KSA and Founder and President of Humania Capital supports and celebrates WHO’s goal. On an ongoing basis throughout and across his businesses and impact driven efforts, Makarem is dedicated to developing sustainable, quality private healthcare hospitals for all.

“Opening the first Saudi German Hospital in Jeddah over 30 years ago, my family and I continue to work towards improving the health and well-being of the communities we operate in. Through the latest innovations and best in class patient care we pride ourselves on quality yet always keep patient accessibility and therefore, affordability at our core,” explained Makarem.

As a global leader committed to bringing meaningful change to the healthcare and education sectors, Mr. Makarem is in the business of doing good. This is something that has been cascaded from generation to generation, with Mr. Makarem learning from his father, Engineer Sobhi Batterjee, President of SGH. Together, proactively driving positive and progressive change to boost communities throughout the Arab World and beyond.

With nine Saudi German Hospitals currently operating across the MENA region, the Batterjee family’s goal for 2019, in line with that of World Health Day, is to continue expanding quality healthcare in other countries, as well as other territories in Saudi Arabia, to support communities locally, regionally and internationally.

SGH Group is currently covering 80% of the population in the Kingdom through its five hospitals, with the sixth hospital near completion in Dammam, which is expected to open in mid-2019. SGH Group is working towards covering 100% of the Kingdom›s population in all its regions. In addition, SGH Group has expanded to Egypt, Yemen and the UAE whilst developing new hospitals in a number of territories throughout the GCC and adjoining emerging markets.

“Alongside increasing patient accessibility to quality healthcare, I am also a strong believer and am extremely passionate about the power of preventative care, through raising awareness on the importance of health and wellness. Sincere to our purpose, I aim to not only increase access to healthcare, but most importantly, encourage and drive healthier lifestyles resulting in healthier communities which therefore, achieves less time spent in hospitals.”

“This was my biggest drive when bringing the Gold’s Gym franchise to the MENA region, alongside my ongoing efforts towards the development and expansion of Humania Capital in under-served specialized and sub-specialized areas,” concluded Makarem Batterjee. — SG