In an era where healthcare systems are under strain from rising costs, aging populations, and the need for technological disruption, Italian healthcare consultancy firm GKSD Healthcare stands at the forefront of a movement to revolutionize healthcare delivery across Europe and the Middle East.
GKSD Healthcare, founded in 2020, is an integral part of the GKSD Investment Holding Group and San Donato Hospital Group (GSD), which treats over 63 million patients annually. The company has been actively operating in Italy, Europe, and the MENA region, providing strategic advisory services and integrated healthcare solutions.
Through a combination of strategic investments, partnerships with governments and private entities, and innovative solutions to long-standing healthcare challenges, GKSD Healthcare is transforming the way millions of people experience healthcare. In Italy alone, it serves 5.8 million people.
This transformation is focused on three main pillars: digital health, infrastructure development, and workforce empowerment. Together, these initiatives are laying the foundation for a more inclusive, efficient, and effective healthcare system across two regions with different needs and challenges.
Europe: Modernizing Healthcare in an Aging Population
Europe has long been considered a global leader in healthcare, with advanced medical research, world-class hospitals, and a focus on universal access. However, the continent faces significant challenges in keeping pace with the demands of an aging population, chronic diseases, and the escalating healthcare costs. The median age in Europe is 44 years.
One of GKSD Healthcare's primary objectives in Europe is to modernize healthcare delivery by introducing digital technologies. The rise of telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics offers new avenues for improving patient outcomes, reducing wait times, and optimizing healthcare resources.
By integrating these technologies into existing healthcare systems, GKSD Healthcare is helping to alleviate the pressures on overburdened hospitals and clinics.
"Digital health is an essential part of the future of healthcare in Europe," says chairman of GKSD Investment Holding Group and San Donato Hospital Group (GSD) Kamel Ghribi. "By using AI to assist in diagnostics, for example, or telemedicine to connect patients with doctors remotely, we are not only improving access to care but also making healthcare more efficient and cost-effective."
The company, through a joint venture, aims to construct a network of approximately 100 healthcare facilities, including smart clinics, across Italy by 2030.
Ghribi noted that the initiative “sees us as protagonists in bringing a completely innovative range of healthcare services to Italy.” For his part, Francesco Galli, President of the Strategy and Operations Committee of the San Donato Group and CEO of the Bergamo Hospital Institutes of the San Donato Group, said: “We are particularly proud of the Smart Clinic project. Born ten years ago from our intuition, it immediately materialized into an innovative treatment and prevention proposal,” said
Telemedicine is particularly important in rural and underserved European communities, where access to specialized care may be limited. Through partnerships with local healthcare providers, GKSD Healthcare is expanding telemedicine platforms to connect patients with specialists in real-time, reducing the need for long-distance travel and potentially life-threatening treatment delays.
This month, the company partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to enhance global health and wellbeing and transform equitable healthcare.
GKSD Healthcare is also working to address the growing demand for long-term care services for Europe's aging population. By focusing on developing geriatric care centers and investing in technologies that enable remote monitoring of chronic conditions, GKSD Healthcare is helping to ensure that elderly patients receive the care they need, whether they reside in urban centers or remote villages.
The Middle East: Building Healthcare Infrastructure From the Ground Up
While Europe grapples with the need to modernize its existing systems, the Middle East faces different challenges. In many parts of the region, healthcare infrastructure is still in its developmental stages, with large disparities in access to medical care between urban and rural areas. Rapid population growth and increasing demand for specialized care have placed enormous pressure on governments and healthcare providers to expand services quickly and efficiently.
In the Middle East, GKSD Healthcare is building healthcare infrastructure from the ground up. The company is working closely with governments and private sector partners to establish state-of-the-art hospitals, clinics, and specialized care centers that meet the specific needs of each country's population.
"We see a tremendous opportunity in the Middle East to not only build new healthcare facilities but to create centers of excellence that can serve as models for the rest of the world," says Ghribi. "By leveraging the latest medical technologies, we can deliver high-quality care to historically underserved communities."
In 2023, the company invested $136 million in smart clinics in the region to improve wellness pathways and advance precision medicine, aided by artificial intelligence.
“This strategic alliance follows the global predictions that precision medicine will be the new economy in the field of biotechnology,” the company said in a statement, adding that GK Investment Holding and GSD would work closely “to advance acute care treatment, medical education, and scientific research in the field of gene and cellular therapies.”
In addition to building physical infrastructure, GKSD Healthcare is committed to improving the quality of care through training and education.
By partnering with medical schools, universities, and international healthcare organizations, the company is helping to cultivate the next generation of doctors, nurses, and healthcare administrators in the region.
"Education is one of the most critical aspects of our work in the Middle East," notes Ghribi. "We are not just building hospitals; we are building capacity. By training local healthcare workers, we are ensuring that these new facilities will be staffed by professionals who understand the unique needs of their communities."
GKSD is designing and developing a state-of-the-art learning facility in the United Arab Emirates.
Bridging the Gap Between Regions
While the healthcare systems in Europe and the Middle East may be at different stages of development, they share a common need for innovative, digital solutions to improve patient care.
GKSD Healthcare hopes to remain at the forefront of developing digital health platforms that bridge the gap between regions, offering scalable solutions that can be adapted to different healthcare environments.
In both regions, it is investing in AI and data analytics to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline hospital operations, and enhance patient outcomes.
“AI-powered diagnostic tools can assist doctors in identifying diseases at earlier stages, while data analytics help healthcare providers make more informed decisions about resource allocation and treatment plans,” Ghribi explains.
By sharing best practices, leveraging technology, and investing in education and infrastructure, the company is helping to create a future where healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of geography or socio-economic status.