Monday, December 21, 2009Cayman Plans For Hospital

Kevin Shereves2,000-Bed Hospital Plans Progressing

Premier Hon McKeeva Bush is in India along with Mark Scotland Minister of Health, to present a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to Dr Devi Shetty on behalf, of the Cayman Islands government. The Premier also gave opening remarks on 16 December 2009 at Dr Shetty’s new cancer hospital in Bangalore, India.

Mr Bush traveled to Bangalore for the formal opening of the new cancer treatment facility. The new 500,000 square foot hospital, with 1,500 beds, is the largest in the world and is a part of a larger complex of specialty-care hospitals that comprise Dr Shetty’s “Narayana Health City.”

Mr Bush told Cayman Net News that he and a number of private and public sector representatives from the Cayman Islands would be visiting the Shetty Hospital in Bangalore to present a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Cayman Islands government and Dr Shetty. “The MOU will be taken to Cabinet and it should be finalised by the end of the year,” he said.

Dr Shetty is India’s most renowned cardiologist and is now in negotiations with the Cayman Islands government to build a large medical complex in Grand Cayman that would provide tertiary care to patients from North and South America as well as the Cayman Islands.

If it goes ahead, the private-sector initiative would see the construction of a proposed 2,000 bed facility, which will also include a medical school. Mr Bush said, “Dr Shetty’s hospital is a very promising business for the Cayman Islands in terms of medical tourism.” He said that it would bring more people to the Cayman Islands, raise much-needed revenue and create jobs.

Mr Bush also said that he would be speaking with a number of potential investors in tourism while in India. “Medical tourism is the big push that I am leaning on with Dr Shetty and others and they want to know how soon we are able to proceed.”

During his address to the distinguished audience, Mr Bush said, “We in the Cayman Islands are very excited about Dr Shetty’s stated intention to build a first-class healthcare facility in our country.”

Mr Bush said that Dr Shetty’s commitment of “inward investment” in the Cayman Islands is “one of the most significant in decades, and our government appreciates the display of confidence in the Cayman Islands economy by Dr Shetty and his colleagues.”

In his keynote address he said, “It is amazing to hear that Narayana Health City will be able to cater to more than 15,000 patients daily, bringing down the costs substantially.”

Acknowledging that there is intense competition for India’s foreign investment, Mr Bush said, “There are many choices of jurisdictions with which to do business. We want to work to make the Cayman Islands India’s preferred location.”

Mr Bush then issued an invitation to their counterparts in India on behalf of the people of the Cayman Islands. He said, “Come to our country. Bring your families and see for yourself what we have to offer.”

Mr Bush’s remarks were widely covered by the media in India. Premier Bush is pictured with Dr Shetty, along with a story relating to the opening of the new cancer hospital, in the Times of India, the country’s largest newspaper.

Among those from Cayman in India for the opening ceremonies were the Hon. Mark Scotland, Minister of Health; MLA Cline Glidden; Canover Watson, chairman of the Health Services Authority; and businessmen Gene Thompson and Harry Chandi.

Oyster Publications Inc, PO box 3369, Road Town Tortola, British Virgin Islands, VG1110