Dutch government sends expert to assist a local healthcare firm

The Dutch government is helping a local company to take advantage of the growing demand for healthcare supplies and equipment in the Philippines.

PUM Netherlands senior expert Theo Van Duersen has been sent to assist MHR (Medical & Hospital Resources) Health Care Corporation, to gain advantage over the highly competitive medical supplies industry in the Philippines.

Duersen, a retired economist executive of Philips Medical Supplies based in Holland, sees the potential growth for MHR here, for as long as the company will employ professional solution for accounting and logistics system.

Duersen suggested that the company should immediately implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to sustain its business, and invest heavily on hardware and software requirements.

MHR chief executive officer (CEO) Michael H. Refugio said that although it is important for the company to employ professionalized business solutions and logistic systems, what concerns him now is how to source the needed investment for the system.

MHR is expected to invest at least P1.5 million for the accounting and logistic system, alone. Refugio said the company is now in the stage of finding out how to get the needed investment.

The company, which started in Cebu in 2000 with P49 thousand capitalization is reaping an average of P150 million sales a year. Refugio said administrative support investment for his business should be seriously implemented to survive and take advantage of the business potential of healthcare supplies demand.

Duersen's expertise is needed by the company in order to pursue its plan to expand its market coverage from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Refugio said.

MHR is the supplier of healthcare supplies in the hospitals, and clinics, such as surgical consumable, IV set, needles, among others.

PUM, a developmental support program established by the Dutch government in partnership with the Employers' Association Holland, is dispatching about 15 Senior Experts to help Cebuano companies, including Local Government Unit (LGUs) beneficiaries for an intensive technical and technology support.

Earlier, PUM chief executive officer (CEO) Thijs van Praag announced that the Philippines is one of the important countries that is being supported by the project, due to a lot of industries. – Ehda M. Dagooc