Health City Cayman opens new radiation oncology facility

(CMR) Health City Cayman Islands on Thursday officially opened its new Radiation Oncology Centre in Camana Bay, ushering in a new era of hope for cancer patients in the Cayman Islands and surrounding territories.

Equipped with the latest technology in the form of a Siemens TruBeam Varian Lineae Accelerator, the center is the first of its kind in the Cayman Islands and one of the most advanced in the region. It marks the first phase of the 70,000-square-foot modern, state-of-the-art medical facility being built on three acres of land to the south of Camana Bay, at a cost of US$100 million. It will be officially named the Gene Thompson Radiotherapy Centre, in homage to the late developer and entrepreneur, who was instrumental in establishing Health City.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Health City Clinical Director Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil called the new facility “a symbol of hope, built on a legacy of excellence in medicine which balances compassionate patient care with research, development, and innovation.”

“The technology which is available means we are now able to provide effective, precise, and less invasive cancer treatments for the people of the Cayman Islands,” he added.

Distinguishing services which will be offered include External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), 3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT). Special services such as Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), and Total Body Irradiation (TBI) will also be offered. Brachytherapy Services will be accessible in the future.

Premier  Honourable Wayne Panton, who was in attendance, extended his congratulations to Health City on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government.

He stated, “This facility will dramatically transform the options of our people to regain health and wellness without suffering the disruption, cost, and inconvenience of having to travel away from their homes and families to receive this lifesaving cancer treatment option.”

He thanked the institution “for making amazing strides over the past few years in improving our access to high-quality health services, physicians, and treatment facilities.” 

Minister for Health and Wellness Hon. Sabrina Turner pointed out that the construction of the new facility is a major step towards advancing local health care, an effort which is largely dependent on synergistic partnerships and strategic alliances.

“One of the goals of not only my Ministry but of this current administration is to promote healthier living through access to healthcare services and wellness education.  My colleagues and I all recognize that in order to achieve this goal, we must work together with the private sector and NGO partners to strengthen our local healthcare system,” she stated.

“I am grateful for Health City Cayman Islands’ ongoing investment in Cayman’s healthcare system and the opportunity that it affords them to offer equitable, accessible, evidence-based, best-practices informed, multi-disciplinary cancer care to our people right here at home,” the minister added.

Located where the majority of the population lives and work, the facility is a major part of the development of Camana Bay. Justin Howe, President of Real Estate Asset Management at Dart, called the new facility “a transformative step in healthcare delivery in the Cayman Islands and a demonstration of what happens when long-term planning is paired with world-class delivery.”

He lauded Health City’s efforts, stating, “This commitment to investing in innovation and infrastructure for the benefit of current and future generations aligns with what we are doing at Dart, and we welcome this development as an important feature of the future of Camana Bay.” 

Health City’s Chief Business Officer, Shomari Scott, noted, “The new Radiation Oncology Centre is an outstanding healthcare resource for the community, not just for cancer treatment but also specialized radiation services. There is no longer the need for the people of the Cayman Islands to travel overseas for advanced care and be away from family members when their love and support is most needed. This translates to more lives saved and a better quality of life for those who will benefit from these services.”

Upon completion, Health City Camana Bay will feature several medical specialties not currently available in the Cayman Islands. Key among those will be a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), an emergency pavilion and critical care unit, and a robust multispecialty program that includes robotic surgery. The facility is expected to be fully operational in 2024.