Bringing quality, accessible health services to more Filipinos

Quality healthcare is essential for improving life expectancy, enhancing the quality of life, and reducing mortality rates. However, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are still significant disparities in healthcare access across different regions of the country.

For instance, while urban areas like Metro Manila have a relatively high concentration of hospitals and healthcare providers, rural regions often struggle with a scarcity of medical facilities and professionals.

Manuel “Manny” V. Pangilinan, widely known as MVP, has made significant contributions to infrastructure development, service improvements, and strategic investments aimed at enhancing the accessibility and quality of healthcare for Filipinos.

As a business leader and philanthropist, his initiatives have left a lasting impact on various sectors, particularly in addressing critical infrastructure needs and advancing healthcare services across the country.

Under MVP’s leadership, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) has invested heavily in the healthcare sector, managing some of the country’s top hospitals and enhancing their capabilities and services.

With a mission to deliver integrated quality healthcare services that are accessible and sustainable, MPIC has embarked on initiatives that align with its vision of being the leading and most valued integrated healthcare network in the country.

Since its initial investment in Makati Medical Center in 2007, Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. has rapidly emerged as the largest private hospital group in the Philippines, revolutionizing the healthcare landscape in the country.

Rebranded as Metro Pacific Health (MPH) in 2022, it now encompasses 21 reputable hospitals like Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center, and Davao Doctors Hospital, as well as 23 hospitals, 26 outpatient care centers, two allied health colleges, and a centralized laboratory across the country.

“We rename Metro Pacific Hospitals to Metro Pacific Health — symbolizing not only a wider spectrum of investments in health services, but also our enhanced mission of responding to the most pressing concern of our people,” said the MPH founder and chairman.

The healthcare network’s focus on expanding its network of healthcare facilities is aimed at providing affordable and quality healthcare services to a larger segment of the population.

Metro Pacific Health also emphasized the importance of running hospitals more efficiently to reduce the overall cost of healthcare services. By leveraging collective buying power to procure medicines and supplies at the lowest possible cost, the company aims to streamline operations and pass on the cost benefits to its patients.

Furthermore, the company is committed to expanding its range of services to include complex healthcare procedures within the next three to four years. The forward-looking approach is designed to reduce the need for Filipinos to seek specialized medical treatment overseas, ensuring that such services are readily available within the country.

“Our intention is to expand efficiencies to make our services affordable. That’s an important concern for this group — to make the health services, not only quality health services, but to make services affordable. We will not only provide quality hospital care, but make that accessible to (a) greater number of people,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

According to the MPH chairman, each MPH facility is dedicated to providing top-notch medical care while upholding the renowned Filipino values of hospitality and compassion.

MPH is committed to being “The Heart of Filipino Healthcare,” offering high-quality, compassionate, and patient-centric care. The organization takes pride in delivering expertise and kindness across all its hospitals.

From hospital care to virtual, mobile, and home care, Metro Pacific Health aims to foster healthy lifestyles through wellness-oriented programs and projects. With over 9,000 expert doctors and nearly 17,000 skilled nurses, MPH’s dedication and selfless service, especially during the pandemic, highlight the resilience and camaraderie of Filipino healthcare professionals.

One of the key investments made by MPH has been in the e-health landscape. This investment aims to ensure that, while embracing modernity, the network remains fully focused on the patients in its care delivery.

The healthcare network has been upgrading its partner hospitals’ information systems, implementing electronic medical records, establishing virtual care platforms, and developing dynamic portals.

Currently, MPH acquired the biggest number of beds and the size of the investments in Greater Metro Manila. By 2025, the healthcare network plans to add two more hospitals. The company is also aiming to expand its footprint in regional areas, specifically targeting medium-sized hospitals in those regions.

“We will achieve our vision of making Metro Pacific Health the leading and most valued integrated healthcare network in the Philippines, and one of Asia’s most innovative and trusted healthcare providers,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

Embracing digitalization for accessible healthcare

MPH has unveiled its blueprint for business growth, which includes modernizing healthcare with state-of-the-art technology in medical science and data. The healthcare network’s approach is expected to improve the end-to-end customer experience and making world-class quality healthcare more accessible to many Filipinos.

Mr. Pangilinan’s vision for improving healthcare accessibility materialized in the form of the mWell mobile application. One of its standout features is teleconsultation, priced at an affordable P399 per session, which includes P20,000 worth of accident insurance.

The application also includes a groundbreaking feature called the mWell Mind Health Score, designed to provide insights into one’s mental well-being.

In a statement, Mr. Pangilinan highlighted the role of digital platforms in enhancing the affordability and reach of healthcare services. He emphasized the need to collaborate with existing healthcare industry stakeholders and serve more Filipinos digitally.

“Digital will expedite the adoption of health services. Make it more affordable, more extensive, so more people can avail of it,” said Mr. Pangilinan.

The impact of these initiatives is reflected in the increasing adoption of digital health services. According to Mordor Intelligence, the telemedicine market size is estimated at US$172.44 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach US$330.26 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.88% during the forecast period of 2024-2029.

Consequently, the mWell app, with its user-friendly interface and affordable services, is poised to contribute significantly to this growth.

“mWell’s mission is to demolish the barriers preventing our countrymen in remote areas from receiving quality healthcare. Our platform is sustainable, future-proof, and fully integrated — allowing us to bring healthcare closer to all Filipinos,” Mr. Pangilinan added. — Mhicole A. Moral