The Medical City undertakes aggressive expansion binge

MANILA, Philippines - The Medical City (TMC) has allotted P750 million on an expansion binge that expands its reach to the Visayas and eventually to Mindanao.

TMC’s expansion move was capped by a recent announcement that it has a(GSIH) and the Global Medical Network (GMN) in Iloilo at a cost of P150 million. This, according to TMC president and CEO Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon, is in anticipation of a full purchase of the two facilities which is likely to happen before the year ends.

In addition, Dr. Bengzon said they have set aside P600 million for the upgrade of facilities and enhancement of services in their existing and newly acquired facilities.

TMC had earlier acquired existing sister sites in Luzon, including the Mercedes Medical Center (MMC) in Pampanga and a network of outpatient clinics in Dagupan, Olongapo and Cavite.

These recent acquisitions, plus a network of 12 clinics in and around Metro Manila, will bring the number of TMC locations to 18.

“These acquisitions concretize our firm commitment to providing Filipinos greater accessibility to world-class health care services,” Dr. Bengzon said, adding that at TMC “patients are partners.”

Commenting on their new partnership with TMC, GSIH and MMC president and CEO Dr. Evangeline C. Johnson said: “These are very exciting times, and we welcome the opportunity to become part of the growing TMC family. We believe that there is tremendous synergy from the shared visions of our instritutions in uplifting the state of the nation’s health, with this to be achieved through productive and innovative partnerships among health care institutions, professionals and beneficiaries.”

GSIH is a tertiary hospital with a capacity of over 100 beds located in a convenient ssite along the Iloilo waterfront. Margaret Bengzon, head of strategic services at TMC, said they have allotted P400 million to expand and upgrade the facilities in this location, including the construction of a Medical Arts Tower and the acquisition of state-ot-the-art imaging capability. Part of the plan is to increase the bed capacity to 250 and the enhance of flagship areas such as cardiovascular, cancer, regeneration medicine and patient education.

Another P200 million will be spent for the upgrade of facilities in Luzon, mainly the level two MMC facility in Angeles City and clinics in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Sangley Point in Cavite and Olongapo City in Zambales.

Margaret Bengzon said their expansion plan doesn’t end there. TMC plans to extend its reach to Mindanao where they intend to acquire a hospital or similar such facility. She said the site is not necessarily in Davao City. She said they are looking at an area that is not so well-served by current providers, one in which the population has a fairly good income and is inclined to get good medical services.

Also part of the plan for Luzon is the establishment of a world-class hospital hub in Central Luzon and this will happen soon, probably in the third quarter, said Margaret Bengzon.