SUBIC BAY FREEPORT —  Another medical and wellness center opened here on Tuesday, bringing to three the number of business locators that has recently joined the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in promoting medical tourism in this free port.

According to Hermenegildo Atienza III, SBMA senior deputy administrator for business and investment, the George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center (GDMWC) formally opened on Tuesday to offer 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-milion 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 may also 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 in inaugurating the new facility on Tuesday.

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 Gordon Jr.

According to company officials, the new medical and wellness center will be a world-class facility comparable with the best hospitals in Metro Manila.

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 billiards hall to be used by both patients and visitors alike. (30)