P6-B cancer center attracts 64 bidders

More than 60 firms are interested in the government’s P6 billion cancer center public-private partnership (PPP) project.

The PPP Center said 160 representatives from 64 local and international entities in 12 countries across the fields of hospital operators, construction companies, equipment suppliers, financiers, and other stakeholders attended the investor’s conference conducted by the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UPPGH) last March 1.

The investor’s conference was supported by the PPP Center with the International Finance Corp. (IFC) as lead transaction advisor.

Last month, the National Economic and Development Authority Board approved the UP-PGH Cancer Center, the first PPP project under the Marcos administration.

UP-PGH is set to select a private partner for the PPP project through a competitive tender process.

The winning private partner would design, finance, construct, provide equipment, and maintain the cancer center facility as well as operate selected areas under a 30-year Build-Transfer-Operate concession agreement.

Of the cancer center facility’s expected 300-bed capacity, 150 would be dedicated to underprivileged Filipinos and the other half for selfpaying patients.

UP-PGH would provide all clinical services free of charge for sponsored patients, while the private sector would offer clinical services to paying patients.

Likewise, the private partner is also providing all major equipment both initial and replacement, undertake maintenance, as well as manage facilities and non-clinical services including cleaning, catering, laundry, and security to the entire hospital.

After the cancer center is completed, it would be turned over by the private sector to PGH.

PGH director Gerardo Legaspi said the private sector partner would not just be investing in the project, but also serving our countrymen.

“I hope (it) will be an example of how private and public partners can change lives,” Legaspi said.

For her part, PPP Center executive director Cynthia Hernandez said the current administration strongly supports having PPP projects in the health sector.

Hernandez said the cancer center PPP project is timely in meeting the growing health needs of the Filipino people.

“We also envision a more efficient delivery of public services by tapping the private sector’s capacity and technology,” Hernandez added.