Melco opens resort hospital with ‘fine-dining’ approach to healthcare

Melco Resorts & Entertainment has opened iRad Hospital, the city’s first integrated resort hospital, offering what management describes as a “fine-dining” medical experience, targeting visitors seeking high-quality healthcare alongside Macau’s leisure and hospitality offerings.

The new iRad Hospital at Studio City represents a MOP100 million strategic partnership with Hong Kong’s MRI diagnostic service provider, iRad.

Located on the third floor of Studio City, the 12,000-square-foot facility combines advanced MRI and CT scanning, minor surgical procedures, mammography, and aesthetic treatments, all within a luxury resort setting.

The hospital also features a fully equipped operating theatre for minor surgical procedures, mammography services, and specialized aesthetic treatment rooms.

Melco first revealed plans for an “iRad Polyclinic” at Studio City during a December 2022 media briefing organized by the local government, as part of its investment commitments under the 10-year gaming concession effective January 1, 2023.

During the grand opening yesterday, Lawrence Ho, chairman of Melco, emphasized the project’s strategic importance, stating, “This project aligns perfectly with the SAR government’s ‘1+4’ economic diversification strategy.”

He added, “Our goal is to provide guests with world-class, integrated entertainment and health options, establishing Macau as the region’s foremost medical and wellness tourism hub while reinforcing the local economy and creating invaluable job opportunities for the community.”

The initiative represents one of the most significant non-gaming investments by a casino operator in Macau.

Dennis Tam, CEO of iRad, revealed the unique positioning of the hospital, noting it will specifically cater to tourists within “the Melco ecosystem,” offering a “fine-dining approach to medical services” rather than competing with traditional “Michelin-level hospitals.”

He highlighted the facility’s international medical expertise, particularly in aesthetic treatments, with half of its cosmetic medical personnel coming from South Korea.

“Our friends from mainland China are welcome to visit Macau instead of South Korea for aesthetic treatment,” Tam stated, emphasizing their strategic leveraging of international medical strengths.

The hospital’s service model combines accessibility with premium care, offering consultations for MOP300, plus medication costs, while providing cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services.

For Melco, the positioning aims to capture the growing demand from international visitors, particularly from mainland China, seeking high-quality medical services combined with luxury tourism experiences.

Industry analysts see this development as a strategic move to capitalize on Macau’s projected annual visitor numbers of 38–39 million by the end of this year, positioning the city as a competitive alternative to established medical tourism destinations in Asia.

The integration of advanced medical facilities within a major resort represents an innovative approach to tourism diversification, potentially creating a new niche market for the region’s hospitality industry.

In August, the Times reported that iRad Medical was actively recruiting in Macau for roles in aesthetic medicine, general medicine, radiography, pharmacology, and operations. Ricaela Diputado