Hospiten acquires hospital in Panama

The Hospiten Group continues its foray into the health and wellness tourism market with the acquisition of a major healthcare facility in Panama.

The Spanish company, whose Hospiten Montego Bay facility is considered one of the finest in the region, also has a presence in Dominican Republic, Mexico, Spain and Jamaica.

The cost of the acquisition was not disclosed, nor did Hospiten comment on how much capital it intends to pump into the new business.

"The Hospiten Group has taken another step forward in its policy of international expansion with the acquisition of Centro Medico Paitilla, one of the most prestigious hospitals, with the best facilities and human resources in Panama ...," said Dr Pedro Luis Cobiella, chairman of the group.

"Having made our mark in Jamaica, where we have been well received, we are now firmly on the road to international expansion, where we will continue to provide quality healthcare at the highest level."

Centro Medico Paitilla, spanning 15,000 square metres, is a comprehensive hospital that covers most medical specialities. It has 103 rooms and a 14-bed Intensive Care Unit.

Cobiella said Panama is one of the countries "with the highest growth and solidity" in Central America, with a population of more than four million, and more than two and a half million tourists visiting every year.

Founded in 1969, Hospiten Group now has 20 private medical-hospital centres in five countries, 5,000 employees, and more than 100 ambulatory medical centres, both their own and through associated brand Clinic Assist. The healthcare company also attends more than 1.7 million patients annually.

In Jamaica, Hospiten Montego Bay - which was touted as a $2.3 billion investment in 2015 - is the only private hospital outside of Kingston with an Intensive Care Unit. The facility is also ISO certified, since 2017, which Cobiella said gives it " a leg up" on the competition in its global outreach for business.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com