Ayala Health to build 12-B cancer hospital
Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) is planning to build the first dedicated cancer specialty hospital in the Philippines at a cost of about 12 billion.
In a statetment, the firm said the stand-alone Cancer Hospital is envisioned to be a fully integrated, 100-bed facility located in Metro Manila. Its goal is to provide comprehensive high-quality cancer care services, but at more affordable prices.
On the back of the recently passed Cancer Control Act (RA11225), the Cancer Hospital is expected to complement and support public sector efforts to improve cancer care in the Philippines.
Ayala Corporation President and AC Health Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala said that the Cancer Hospital aims to address the prevailing gaps in screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the Philippines.
“Cancer is now the third leading cause of death in the Philippines, and unfortunately, we struggle with poor outcomes. A key pillar of our advocacy is screening and early detection so that we can diagnose patients earlier, and provide them with more affordable high-quality cancer care,” he said.
AC Health President Paolo F. Borromeo added that they will be working
with leading international cancer care providers to bring world-class operational and clinical expertise, as well as stateof-the-art technology for the benefit of patients.
The Cancer Hospital will be a specialized center, equipped with diagnostic equipment (including a PET Scan), chemotherapy facilities, linear accelerators for advanced radiation therapy, and operating rooms for the specialist surgeons. Apart from offering a comprehensive range of services, the hospital will be led by some of the top local oncologists, working in a dedicated group practice as part of multi-disciplinary care teams.
“We are working with some of the most respected names in the local oncology field, and we are delighted that they share our vision for this Cancer Hospital” said Borromeo.
He noted that, “we are also encouraged by the feedback we have gotten from patients who love the concept. I think having a specialized cancer hospital in the Philippines is long overdue, and our goal is to redefine cancer care by serving a broader segment of Filipinos, while providing quality of care that matches global standards.”
Borromeo also said that they plan to offer cancer screening services to identify cases early at AC Health’s FamilyDoc, now the largest retail clinic chain in the country.