Health City Founder Lauds ‘Caymankind’ Hospitality as 10th Anniversary is Celebrated

The founder of Health City Cayman Islands believes the power of the Caymankind brand has contributed significantly to the medical facility’s success over the past decade.

Delivering the Founders Day address, Dr. Devi Shetty, who started Health City 10 years ago, expressed his immense gratitude to the government and people of the Cayman Islands for “accepting us as part of their family.” He said, “The warmth, the encouragement, and the support you offered us helped us to save so many lives and make a difference to thousands of people.”

Dr. Shetty asserted that Cayman is becoming recognised as one of the leading global medical tourism destinations, with Health City attracting patients from more than 70 countries. “All this happened only because of your encouragement,” he stated, promising that the progress achieved today is “nothing compared to what is going to happen within the next few years.”

Health City is an internationally accredited centre of global excellence providing care to patients from the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean, the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and elsewhere around the globe. “Today, thousands of tourists from different parts of the world come to enjoy the Caribbean hospitality in your beautiful island. It’s [only] a matter of time before thousands and thousands of medical tourists will arrive at your doorstep for the wonderful health care they’re going to experience,” he promised.

The renowned heart surgeon assured that Health City will continue to offer the most advanced health care at a fraction of the cost in the United States. “People will choose to come to us, not just for the price, but for the quality and the outstanding results … and this is the power of a country called Cayman Islands, which has opened its arms for people like us to come and set up an establishment, which today is touching the lives of thousands of people,” he said. Dr. Shetty also recalled how charitable activities, supported by organisations including Samaritan’s Purse, have saved lives through complex heart operations for over a thousand children from places as diverse as Mongolia, Fiji, Kenya, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Accredited by Joint Commission International, the tertiary care institution has achieved numerous accomplishments in specialties including cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, radiotherapy, and emergency medicine. Health City has seen hundreds of thousands of patients over the past decade, covering specialties such as cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, and sleep medicine.

Dr. Shetty’s vision for the next 10 years includes having most of the key positions in clinical care and administration occupied by trained Cayman Islanders. “We would like children who were born in Cayman Islands to be excited about the opportunity to become part of the world’s largest industry,” he said.

During the ceremony, held in May, Clinical Director Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil presented the Chairman’s Award to Stephen Ebanks, IT Manager, for his exemplary service over the past nine and a half years. The inaugural Florence Nightingale Compassionate Care Nurse’s Award was presented to Chemotherapy Nurse, Indira Pale Angara.

“I was very surprised when I heard my name as the recipient of this year’s Chairman’s Award, because I wasn’t expecting it! Being recognised like this means a lot to me,” said Ebanks.

Certificates were presented to nearly 15 employees in recognition of their service to Health City Cayman Islands for five or more years, and almost 40 employees for 10 years of service. Seven staff members were honored for their commitment to excellence.

Later this year, Health City Camana Bay – the institution’s second hospital in Grand Cayman – will be opened. The facility will feature a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), an emergency pavilion with a critical care unit, kidney transplant unit, and an extensive multispecialty programme incorporating robotic surgery as well as the radiotherapy centre, which was established last year. The development of the Health City Camana Bay facility represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare in the region. The 70,000-square-foot hospital, built at an estimated cost of US$100 million, will be one of the premier integrated oncology centres.