World renowned cardiologist and medical entrepreneur Dr. Devi Shetty told Cabinet Ministers and Councillors that the 150-bed Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in East End is scheduled to open on 24 February 2014.

Dr. Shetty and his team met Ministers and Councillors Monday, 23 September 2013 to provide an update on the private-public sector medical entrepreneurship and medical tourism project, which is racing to completion. He also shared information about the success of his medical model.

The world-renowned doctor reiterated that his hospital would use sophisticated technology and interactive software to enhance patient care. This will be provided by qualified medical specialists, primarily in cardiology and orthopaedics at inception, to be followed by oncology.

The project has been gaining overseas attention as a possible model for other countries, team members explained. Two junior doctors will be Caymanian.

In addition to a medical/nursing college on campus, the project’s next construction will be a hotel beside the hospital, to house overseas patients seeking medical care.

Meanwhile, future projects may include a medical school for Cayman Brac.

Acting Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell and Minister Hon. Kurt Tibbetts led the Cabinet team, which pressed for involving as many Caymanians as possible in the project, as: future employees, patients seeking tertiary care in specialities offered at the hospital, and landlords housing the hospital’s employees.

With regard to Caymanian students, Cabinet received assurances that a programme is already underway with the Ministry of Education to talk about medical education to local high school students. This will include a proposed tour of the new hospital by all government school students in the Islands.

The Cayman Islands Government (CIG) also sought highly preferential rates for possible tertiary care Caymanian patients.

In turn, Dr. Shetty requested assurance that CIG would refer to his institution its tertiary care patients that require treatment in the specialisations that his hospital will offer. He and his team also showed keen interest in working with Government in all possible areas.  Furthermore, he sought better airline connectivity in transporting medical tourists to and from the Cayman Islands.

Acting Premier Kirkconnell welcomed the project as well as the update and promised Government’s cooperation.

Besides Dr. Shetty, the team comprised his United States partner Ascension Holdings’ President John D. Doyle, Project Director Gene Thompson, Narayana Health Vice Chairman Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Executive Vice President Viren Shetty, project developer Private Equity Group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) O.J. Buigas and Relationship Manager Harry Chandi.

Photo captions: Photos by Bina Mani

Cabinet Ministers and Councillors receive an update at GAB on Monday (23 September 2013) from cardiologist Dr. Devi Shetty and his team on the ongoing Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital project in East End.