Work on Hospital for Tourists Starts in 1st Part of ’07

Barring any hitches in negotiations, construction of the first medical center in Asia catering to medical tourists will begin in the first quarter of 2007. 

The facility, to be tentatively called the American Specialty Hospital of Cebu, will rise on a two-hectare lot at the Cebu South Reclamation Project (SRP). 
The Cardiovascular Hospitals of America (CHA), which will operate the hospital and owns four similar facilities in the United States, will lease the property for 25 years. 

Dr. Philip Chua, CHA vice president for Far East operations, said the facility will cost about P1 billion. 

Chua was among the speakers in yesterday’s Health and Wellness Forum at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino as part of InTourPreneur 2006, one of the events of the Cebu Business Month. 

Services 

Aside from its state-of-the-art equipment, the hospital will be accredited by the Joint Commission International and will honor international health insurance providers. 

Chua said the hospital will be a “small” one – at least 30 beds – to ensure a fast turnover of patients. 

That way, the patients can still enjoy the other components of the package they have availed themselves of as medical tourists, Chua added. 

The hospital will also offer services popular among medical tourists, specifically open heart, cosmetic, eye and dental surgeries. 

While they will be hiring locals for manpower, Chua said their medical team will be composed of professionals who are trained and licensed in the United States. 

He also assured that while they will cater mostly to tourists who can afford the services, they will accept charity cases in coordination with various government and nongovernment agencies. 

Negotiations 

Chua told Sun.Star Cebu that they are still negotiating with both the national and local governments for various concessions, which will include, among others, the site where the hospital will rise and tax exemptions for being a pioneer in the medical tourism industry. 

Chua, who is also chairman of cardiovascular surgery of the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital, however said they have at least three concerns that need to be addressed before going full blast in the construction. 

These include return of investment, peace and order, and corruption in politics. (RCT)