IN addition to developing premium residences in various market segments, listed real estate firm Century Properties Group announced that it will be an active player in the country’s growing medical tourism industry through its medical arts building project in Makati City.
Centuria Medical Makati, a 28-storey outpatient medical facility now on its seventh floor of construction at Century City in Kalayaan Avenue, will serve as a platform to support the Philippine governments thrust to offer world-class medical services to foreign patients, said Century Properties Chairman Jose E.B. Antonio.
The P2.1-billion project is positioned to attract local residents and most especially medical travelers, who are looking for quality treatment in a world-class facility that can offer huge cost savings, as compared to costs of medical treatment in their own countries, said Antonio, whose firm has previously developed three medical arts projects in Makati, Ortigas and Alabang.
Tourism is considered one of the pillars of our country’s economic growth. With the added push from the tourism and health departments of our government, Century Properties is very optimistic about the prospects of medical tourism in the Philippines. We know for a fact that similar outpatient medical facilities abroad are extremely doing well and we will bring the best practice to Centuria, Antonio said.
In 2010, the Philippines posted $25.3-million in revenues for the health and wellness industry, 60 percent of which came from foreign visitors. Medical procedures in the Philippines can be 40-80 percent cheaper compared to US hospitals.
Centuria is scheduled for completion in 2014. It will house 553 clinics for doctors specializing in various medical practices, and if there is a need to run tests or conduct minor medical procedures for patients, Centuria will offer the use of its special facilities within the building: the Day Surgery Center, radiology center, diagnostic laboratory, digital imaging, pharmacy, recovery suites, and an ambulance transfer service. To foreign patients who wish to extend their stay in the Philippines, Centuria will have a travel desk and concierge services for flight arrangements and hotel bookings.
source: http://www.ManilaStandardToday.com / Home / March 03rd, 2013
