Ayala Group eyeing one more hospital

MANILA, Philippines — AC Health plans to add another hospital in its portfolio this year, as the Ayala Group’s health care arm works its way toward its goal of expanding its network to at least 10 hospitals by next year.

Rafael Jaime Recio, chief strategy and investment officer for AC Health, said the company currently has a few hospital acquisition targets in the pipeline.

This year, he said the company is hoping to add at least one hospital that is at least a Level 2 facility with no less than 100 beds and located in a dense urban town or city.

“Hopefully we’re able to announce something within the year. We’re being very selective in terms of the hospitals that we target also,” Recio said.

“If you’re asking if we want to build greenfield, I think we’re focusing first on making sure the cancer hospital (Healthway Cancer Care Hospital) ramps up first. And then everything else for the foreseeable future will be through acquisition,” he added.

Recio said the company is also exploring acquisition opportunities beyond hospitals.

AC Health’s Healthway Medical Network currently has expansive network of seven hospitals, 18 multi-specialty centers and over 350 corporate clinics.

The company in October last year acquired a 60-percent stake in Cebu Velez General Hospital, a 200-bed tertiary hospital in Cebu City.

AC Health seeks to expand its network to at least 10 hospitals, 300 clinics and 1,150 pharmacies by 2027.

“I think we’re making good progress. It looks like we’re on track. It’s been an encouraging 2026 so far, despite all the challenges we’ve seen lately,” Recio said.

AC Health is looking at sustaining its growth momentum this year following a banner 2025, when it booked a net income of P34 million, a reversal from the P607 million net loss incurred in 2024.

Recio said the company’s top line is expected to grow by least 20 percent this year.