Go family expands hospital business

CEBU, Philippines - The Go family of Cebu has expanded its hospital business to respond to the call for more hospital investments in the province.

From the previous 100-bed capacity, the St. Vincent General Hospital now has a capacity of 160 beds.

The rapid growth of Central Visayas, particularly the Cebu province, translates to an increase in demand for healthcare services, thus the need for more hospital investments.

This according to St. Vincent General Hospital medical director Dr. Joselito Almendras.

“There’s a growing need for hospital beds in the city,” he said at the sidelines of the hospital’s expansion wing inauguration over the weekend. “Our region is also growing especially in this area.”

The Department of Health said hospital bed-to-population ratio in the Philippines is relatively low. The capacity of public hospitals is no longer sufficient for the growing population.

Almendras said the improvement and availability of medical technologies and amenities in Cebu would allow people to access better medical services locally rather than going to major cities like Metro Manila.

Lawyer Augusto Go, president of the family-owned University of Cebu, stressed medical services should be made available and affordable to the low and middle-income people.

Almendras explained the socialized medical services would allow low-income families to access hospital care at a nominal cost.

The Go family holds 80 percent ownership of the hospital and other investors take the remaining 20 percent. (FREEMAN)