The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Lito U. Gagni
The Medical City (TMC) has ventured into US territory Guam with the setting up of the $240-million, 130-bed Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC), the first-ever Philippine hospital to put up a medical facility on US soil.
A partnership between PSI Healthcare Development Services Corp. and Strategic Asia Pacific Investments Inc., the hospital will be the first-ever private hospital to be put up the US territory.
Medical City President and CEO Dr. Alfredo Bengzon, who was on hand for the grand opening a week ago, assured the residents of Guam that the hospital will similarly embrace the TMC’s service philosophy of “Patients are Partners.”
About 600 guests from Guam, Micronesia and the Philippines were on hand for the opening ceremonies, which included the tossing of coins by Bengzon and his family. Officiating the blessing ceremonies was Guam Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron.
The opening of the hospital facility means that Guam residents who go to the Philippines for their health requirements need not venture outside and it means that family members can do hand-holding exercises for the patients.
Launched 11-11-11, or November 11, 2011, the hospital facility’s construction costs went up from $220 million to $240 million, due to what Dr. Bengzon said were the requirements to make the building safer.
The significance of the huge investments for the first private Guam hospital was not lost on Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo, who said that it was not for a defense spending.
It is not a Defense Department investment just for the military and national defense, he said. And it is not a hotel just for visiting tourists. “It is an investment in the people of Guam and their health,” he said.
Dr. Bengzon encouraged the residents of Guam to embrace the TMC service philosophy of “Patients are Partners”.
“Health is every person’s right,” said Dr. Bengzon, “but it is also every person’s responsibility.”
He also spoke about the perseverance and faith it took to overcome the obstacles and get this hospital built, and he emphasized the commitment it represents to the island community
Guam congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo underscored the importance of having a new hospital in Guam that will save both the financial and emotional burden of having to seek off-island medical care.
GRMC CEO Margaret Bengzon welcomed the celebrants and thanked all those who worked so hard make this day possible. She said the GRMC team now must look ahead. “We need to get started on the real work,” she said, in providing quality health care for Guam.