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New Negril hospital to boost health tourism
BY PATRICK FOSTER Observer writer fosterp@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, April 23, 2012
THE Negril business community has embarked on an ambitious project to construct a 250-bed hospital in that tourist resort town on Jamaica's north-western coast and enter the potentially lucrative field of international health tourism.
"US$50 million will get me opened in three years with 50 beds, but the goal is to reach 250 beds, and that will cost approximately US$200 million," Winston Wellington, convener of the project said last week.
According to Wellington, health tourism is one of the fastest growing industries globally and Jamaica is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities.
He cited Panama as one country in the region that has already embarked on the health resort route, successfully attracting patients, especially from the US.
"For treatment in the US that costs US$50,000, people are able to go to Panama for the equivalent treatment costing under US$10,000," said Wellington.
He feels that Jamaica, and Negril in particular, could be a prime destination given the current exchange rate and Negril's laid-back ambience.
Jamaica's ability to provide insurance for overseas patients was also another advantage which the island enjoys, said Wellington, who spent over 40 years of his working life in North America.
"In the US, because of the high cost of insurance, companies are increasingly asking patients to go overseas for treatment, even as far away as Thailand," Wellington asserted.
Insisting that his hospital project is more than an elaborate business plan or an unrealistic pipe dream, Wellington argued that there was indeed a market and with proper financing, it could be a success.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1sspYTcIz
BY PATRICK FOSTER Observer writer fosterp@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, April 23, 2012
THE Negril business community has embarked on an ambitious project to construct a 250-bed hospital in that tourist resort town on Jamaica's north-western coast and enter the potentially lucrative field of international health tourism.
"US$50 million will get me opened in three years with 50 beds, but the goal is to reach 250 beds, and that will cost approximately US$200 million," Winston Wellington, convener of the project said last week.
According to Wellington, health tourism is one of the fastest growing industries globally and Jamaica is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities.
He cited Panama as one country in the region that has already embarked on the health resort route, successfully attracting patients, especially from the US.
"For treatment in the US that costs US$50,000, people are able to go to Panama for the equivalent treatment costing under US$10,000," said Wellington.
He feels that Jamaica, and Negril in particular, could be a prime destination given the current exchange rate and Negril's laid-back ambience.
Jamaica's ability to provide insurance for overseas patients was also another advantage which the island enjoys, said Wellington, who spent over 40 years of his working life in North America.
"In the US, because of the high cost of insurance, companies are increasingly asking patients to go overseas for treatment, even as far away as Thailand," Wellington asserted.
Insisting that his hospital project is more than an elaborate business plan or an unrealistic pipe dream, Wellington argued that there was indeed a market and with proper financing, it could be a success.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1sspYTcIz
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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