Hotel operator to invest P300M for hospital biz

CEBU, Philippines - Hotel chain operator, Alenter Resorts, Hotels Corporation announced its entry to the healthcare service with the planned opening of a 100-bed hospital in Mactan.

The group, which operates the Bluewater Maribago, Bluewater Sumilon, and Bluewater Panglao in Bohol, is investing at least P300 million for the establishment of Mactan Island General Hospital.

"Right now, the group is diversifying its investments. Our priority for the next two years is to put up a 100-bed hospital in Mactan. Construction will start next year. Resort plans or expansion to follow after the hospital," said  Rhyz Buac, vice president for Bluewater Resorts chain.

Buac said while all its properties are up and ongoing expansion and facility improvements, the focus of the group is to address the shortage of hospital beds at least in Cebu.

Last month, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president Dr. Rusty Jimenez said that an additional investment of at least 100,000 hospital beds in the next three years is needed to better facilitate the healthcare needs of Filipino patients.

"There is clearly a lack of hospitals in the Philippines, more so the number of hospital beds. We are a country of already 100-million people, that means ideally the bed to patient ratio is at one bed for every 1,000 patients," said Jimenez.

According to Jimenez, there are only 1,800 hospitals in the country both private and government-owned with a total bed capacity of 77,000.

"If we want to position the Philippines well as a medical tourism destination, especially with the coming Asean integration in 2015, then we are urging for more hospital investments as well as improvement of existing facilities," Jimenez said.

He strongly urged hospital owners to increase incentives for healthcare workers, especially those working in the provinces, to entice them to remain in the country. — Ehda M. Dagooc (FREEMAN)