President Luis Abinader participated this Saturday in the inauguration of the HOMS Health and Wellness Center (HHWC), a modern complex that is committed to the development of health tourism in the northern region of the country.
During the event, the president stated that the diverse production matrix that the country has managed to develop has allowed growth above other Latin American countries, which is why he considered it should continue to be promoted. “There are two sectors that in the remainder of our government we are going to continue developing especially, semiconductors, which I see a very special future in the free zone sector, and health tourism.”
In that order, he announced that in the coming days the government will hold meetings, to establish a critical route and plan to create and develop health tourism in the Dominican Republic, which he defined as one of the most important new ventures.
Health tourism, he said, is a great bet. This sector must grow a lot in the country and is a bet on the real development of the Dominican Republic. “This type of projects contributes to improvement in all areas and also to the growth of the travel flows.”
The President highlighted the importance of having a regulatory framework for health tourism, “because we need to assure the quality of our health infrastructure and it is essential so tourist can come from abroad to receive health services.”
He congratulated the shareholders of the HOMS project which, he said, has been not only a success from a business point of view, but also for the province and the country because it has become a benchmark for health quality. He considered that the strength of Santiago and of societies that are truly successful is because businessmen come together to go beyond the search for profit maximization, to contribute to the country’s development.
Along with President Abinader were the Vice President, Raquel Peña; the Minister of Public Health, Víctor Atallah, and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and the Board of Directors of HOMS, chaired by Dr. Rafael Sánchez Español.
The Minister of Public Health highlighted that this infrastructure is a sign of commitment to the development and innovation of this province and explained that the Dominican Republic, with the leadership of President Abinader, has demonstrated the ability to stay ahead of the times and that the country is positioning itself as a world leader in the provision of health services for international patients.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism indicated that this work strengthens health tourism in the country and at the same time, is a sign of unity that will make Santiago the flagship of the diversification of the sector.
Moreover, the president of the HOMS Board of Directors highlighted the hospital’s more than 15-year history of providing excellent health services to Dominicans and foreigners, which he described as a milestone. He thanked President Abinader for the presence and support in the different initiatives that have allowed the expansion of this emblematic building.
“This achievement is the result of our innovative spirit, which has positioned us as leaders in robotic surgery in the country, the main protagonist of health tourism in the northern area and now as pioneers in having a cutting-edge center that represents a long-term commitment term, stimulating economic growth, job creation and promoting the development of local skills with the new vision of a touristic oriented Santiago,” said Sánchez Español.
Likewise, engineer Manuel Estrella highlighted the current conditions of the country, which is “a world reference in economy, legal stability, where everyone wants to invest” and added that due to the growth of HOMS in its 16 years of service, health tourism has doubled in the province of Santiago, so it was necessary to carry out this work, which, without the support of the government, both in permits and financial, would not have been possible.
The HHWC is strategically located at the entrance to the city of Santiago, 10 minutes from the Cibao International Airport and just steps from the Santiago Metropolitan Hospital (HOMS).
With an area of 51,000 square meters of construction and an investment of more than US $102 million, the HHWC is part of the HOMS expansion plan to become a health city.
HOMS is the first large hospital in the country with International Health Services Accreditation with Accreditation Canada (ACI) and a founding partner of the Dominican Health Tourism Association (ADTS).
The 13-story professional building of medical specialties has 167 offices with state-of-the-art equipment, private waiting rooms, sample collection area and lactation rooms on each level. Also, centers specialized in pathologies whose treatments are in high demand in health tourism such as: dentistry, anti-aging and aesthetic medicine, sleep unit, microbiota study, metabolic surgery, among others.
Likewise, the Residence Inn by Marriott will strengthen the hotel offering in Santiago. With 115 extended stay rooms, available for health and wellness tourists, as well as business and leisure tourists.
The HOMS Health and Wellness Center was built under international standards, with cutting-edge technology, sustainable design and state-of-the-art construction by Ingeniería Estrella. In addition, it was developed with 65% prefabricated elements, implementing the use of steel for the main structure, the facade closures in the PanelKret system and the modular windows with heat treatment.
Also present at the activity were the Minister of Public Works, Deligne Ascensión; the governor of Santiago, Rosa Santos; the senator, Eduardo Estrella; Dr. Brígida Navarro de Sánchez; Lina García; the director of SeNaSa, Santiago Hazim, and the director of the Tax Administration (DGII), Luis Valdez; the elected mayor of Santiago, Ulises Rodríguez; the president of the Board of Directors of Refidomsa, Leonardo Aguilera; the deputy administrator of the Banco de Reservas, Isidro García, and the executive of Grupo Popular, René Grullón.
Closing remarks, which took place in the modern convention center with the blessing of the Reverend Father Secilio Espinal, member of the HOMS Board of Directors, President Abinader, government representatives and prominent personalities from the health and tourism sector along with the members of the Board of Directors took a tour of the complex’s facilities.
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