Its core purpose is to enhance the quality of life of patients by providing cost-effective acute care specialised hospital and related healthcare services. During February 2016 the combination of the Company (previously named Al Noor Hospitals Group plc), with operations mainly in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Mediclinic International Limited, a South African based international private healthcare group founded in 1983 and listed on the JSE stock exchange in South Africa since 1986, with operations in South Africa, Namibia, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (mainly in Dubai), was completed. The combination resulted in the enlarged Mediclinic group now boasting 73 hospitals and 45 clinics. Today, Mediclinic Southern Africa operates 49 hospitals and 2 day clinics throughout South Africa and 3 hospitals in Namibia with more than 8 000 inpatient beds in total; Hirslanden operates 16 private acute care facilities and 4 clinics in Switzerland with more than 1 600 inpatient beds; and Mediclinic Middle East operates 5 hospitals and 39 clinics with more than 700 inpatient beds in the United Arab Emirates.