New Health City clinic opens at Camana Bay

By Christopher Tobutt

Business After Hours, the Chamber of Commerce’s networking event, hosted the opening of the new Health City clinic at Forum Lane in Camana Bay on Thursday 1 July. The new clinic is the forerunner of a much bigger Camana Bay presence from Health City, a 70 bed, 100 million dollar hospital, scheduled for an opening next year. But it is a significant contribution to Cayman’s health offerings in its own right, with an initial offering of services in the areas of cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, urology, gynecology, gastroenterology, internal medicine and medical oncology.

Just before the ribbon-cutting, Hon. Wayne Panton, Premier, commented: “I find it refreshing because this opening is proof that covid-19 has not beat us, but we are continuing our march with life, even though we are still in a pandemic, the opening of a new business is proof that investors still see the Cayman Islands as a safe and stable business environment.”

Mr. Panton suggested that, while Health City’s initial vision was aimed at medical when the East End campus opened in 2014, it has since proved an invaluable health resource for local residents, too: “Just as much as Health City has needed the local market, the government and our people have needed Health City. In the seven years since the hospital has been operating in East End, healthcare expenses in the country have been reduced because the local patients have been referred to Health City,” he said.

Hon Sabrina Turner, Minister for Health and Wellness, welcomed the addition of the new clinic: “Whilst the largest health crisis we have witnessed in our lifetime still rages around the world, with all lights finally being focused on health, healthcare professionals, employment and career opportunities and even science, it is even more important for us here in the Cayman Islands to keep our sights on making health a top priority,” she said.

“Locally, Health City Cayman Islands has been a magnet for medical tourists from the surrounding region, so today, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the greater accessibility to the advanced tertiary care today, and the trend to greater accessibility to a wider range of health care services continues with the opening of this clinic.”

Ms Turner said that the situation of the new clinic would, “Alleviate some stress…for the shortened travel times for persons on the western end of Grand Cayman…and allow people ease of access which is indeed a holistic approach to health and optimal wellness.” Ms. Turner also praised Health City’s significant commitment to providing educational opportunities for Cayman’s school and university students.

DR. Binoy Chattuparambil, clinical director, and Senior Consultant of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Health City Cayman Islands, spoke about the need to provide health services that put patient needs first: “We celebrate seven years when we have saved many hundreds of lives, and immeasurably improved the quality of life for countless more. We have done this by putting our patients at the centre of everything that we do,” he said.

After the ribbon-cutting, senior Health City doctors took the Premier, the Health Minister, and several other members of government for a guided tour around the new facility.