|
SUBIC BAY Freeport: Medical tourism at the Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority (SBMA) gets a big boost with the opening of a world-class
medical facility, the George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center
(GDMWC).
Hermenegildo Atienza 3rd, SBMA senior deputy
administrator for business and investment said that the GDMWC will
be offering both out-patient and surgery services to customers in
the Subic Bay area and the rest of Luzon.
The company is set to start full operation of
its medical and wellness facilities on May 8.
The $20-million project, which is owned and
operated by the George Dewey Medical College, was accredited by the
SBMA to engage in the operation of a hospital and wellness center, a
medical and nursing school, and a research center, Atienza said.
The company also indicated that it might engage
in other medical-related activities like the importation and
distribution of pharmaceutical and medical equipment.
“This is going to complement the SBMA’s
business thrust of putting Subic at the cutting-edge of industries
associated with health, medical tourism, and education,” Atienza
said, pointing out that medical tourism, which is a billion-dollar
industry worldwide, has so far attracted two other medical
businesses in Subic.
“But this is so far the biggest, and with a
full complement of medical equipment,” said Atienza, who joined
SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza at Tuesday’s inauguration. Also
present during the ceremony were Dr. Solita Monsod, who is
chairperson of the GDMWC; Chairman Dante Ang of the Commission on
Filipinos Overseas; and Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon
Jr.
The new medical and wellness center will be a
world-class facility comparable with the best hospitals in Metro
Manila, said company officials.
The center, which took over the facilities
vacated by the former Subic Bay Medical Center, has 50 existing
hospital beds, but officials said they are planning to put up 150
additional beds to meet the requirements of a full-service medical
center.
Among the medical equipment available in the
center are machines for ultrasound, dialysis, mammography, mobile
X-ray, CT-scan, blood coagulation analysis, and field
angiosenalography.
Aside from the medical center, the company will
also put up additional facilities like a nursing home, gym, shopping
center, swimming pool, bowling alley and billiard hall to be used by
both patients and visitors alike.
-- Anthony Bayarong
|
