Tuesday, July 27, 2010Second Hospital For Cayman

Norma Connolly Second Medical Tourism Hospital Touted

Another potential medical tourism hospital is in the works.

The news comes on the heels of the announcement that Indian heart surgeon Devi Shetty plans to build a 2,000-bed hospital in Cayman.

Howard Peterson, president and CEO of development company Cayjam Development Ltd., said construction of a 64-bed tertiary-care hospital, built in a new resort, could begin as early as January, with local doctors being approached to be the main shareholders and investors. The hospital could expand to 120 beds within two years of operation.

Mr. Peterson said his company had been drawing up plans for the new hospital and resort for about five years.

He said building a hospital in a resort would make it more attractive for visitors. “We are doing it that way because, contrary to what a lot of people think, you don’t just put up a building and call it a hospital and attract the people you want to attract.”

Mr. Peterson said he wanted the hospital, which will cost US$560 million, to be a local enterprise. “We’re trying to get the local doctors and local people involved as much as possible... We want them to be a part of it,” he said.

Doctors who invest would be shareholders in the company and would also have the option to practise out of the hospital and to refer patients to it, Mr. Peterson said.

Cayjam is also involved in a joint public-private venture to build a 64-120 bed hospital in Portmore, Jamaica.

Mr. Peterson said he did not consider that the hospital proposed to be built by Mr. Shetty in Cayman would be its biggest competition, adding that most of the competition would come from other facilities throughout the burgeoning medical tourism industry throughout the Caribbean.

He would not disclose where he planned to build the hospital and resort, which may initially offer plastic surgery and cardiology services, but said an international contractor is looking at the feasibility of the plan. Once that is confirmed, he will seek planning permission.

“Starting in January next year is achievable once we can hammer out the details with the contractors,” he said.

Mr. Peterson hopes that if plans for the hospital go ahead, he can obtain similar perks and concessions that the government gave to Mr. Shetty and his Narayana Cayman University Medical Centre.

The government, in a memorandum of agreement signed with Mr. Shetty in April, agreed to cut the costs of work permit fees for medical staff, waive taxes on profit, income, gains and appreciations for 20 years, and exempt the hospital from paying customs or import duty on the first US$800 million it spends on equipment and medical supplies.

It also agreed to pass or amend laws to recognise qualifications of Indian and other overseas medical professionals working at the hospital.

The agreement also has an exclusivity clause, which states that no non-Caymanian can set up a large scale medical tourism facility in Cayman for five years after the Shetty hospital begins operation.

Mr. Peterson said that as a local company the exclusivity clause did not extend to his project.

The hospital would be affiliated with the Cardiovascular Hospitals of America and would seek international accreditation.

He has already approached the Health Practice Commission for a certificate to operate.

Dr. Steve Tomlinson, chairman of the Commission, said Mr. Peterson’s project is just one of several medical tourism-related applications the Health Practice Commission has seen recently, with three being received in the last six weeks.

“I’ve never seen more applications coming in from people interested in establishing medication establishments on the Island. I don’t know when it is going to stop. All of a sudden, there is so much interest from America,” he said.

The most recent applications have included a surgical centre for tourists and locals, a general hospital and a medical tourism facility.

Mr. Peterson also plans to hold a large medical tourism conference in Cayman in February. “It will be a Caribbean-wide conference with a focus on Cayman being a hub for medical tourism.” Cayjam is working with CPR Communications to organise the conference.
The conference would also highlight Cayman’s two existing hospitals - the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital and the Health Services Authority’s Cayman Islands Hospital - as facilities where visitors can get primary and secondary care when on Island.

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