AC Health, CTSI-Varian partner to develop and operate the country’s first cancer specialty hospital in Taguig City
Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health), the healthcare arm of the Ayala Group, has inked a strategic partnership with Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI), a Varian company, to develop and operate the first comprehensive cancer specialty hospital in the Philippines. During a signing event on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, AC Health also announced that the 100-bed cancer facility will be located in the FTI Complex in Taguig City, Metro Manila, adjacent to Ayala Land’s Arca South development.
IN PHOTO (L-R): Ruby Chiong, AC Health Treasurer and CFO; Paolo Borromeo, AC Health President and CEO; Amy Hay, CTSI Vice President for Strategic Initiatives; Ariel Buenaventura, FTI President and CEO; John Gabriel Trinidad III, FTI Vice President for Operations
“We are delighted to partner with CTSI to bring much-needed affordable quality cancer care services to more Filipinos. This project is part of our broader commitment to continue to invest in the country despite the pandemic. We are also excited to be locating the hospital next to Arca South, one of our up-and-coming developments at Ayala Land. By bringing together our local knowledge and AC Health’s network, with CTSI’s operational and clinical expertise, we have the unique opportunity to redefine cancer care in the Philippines,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Chairman of the Board of AC Health.
“Cancer continues to be the third leading cause of death in the Philippines, and treatment has become even more complex amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. AC Health is committed to provide our patients with more affordable high-quality cancer care, especially in this time of need. This cancer hospital is envisioned to be an integral pillar of our integrated healthcare ecosystem. With this hospital as our future referral hub, our network of Healthway specialty and family clinics can provide cancer screening programs, while our pharma companies, IE Medica and MedEthix, can source more affordable cancer medicines for our patients,” AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo said.
CTSI, a Varian company, is a leading oncology services provider that has supported the delivery of safe, quality, and affordable cancer care worldwide for nearly two decades. CTSI provides clinical services and solutions to over 100 hospitals, clinics, and physician groups around the world with a focus on multidisciplinary oncology care. CTSI’s evidence-based delivery model uses technology-enabled solutions to accelerate the adoption of advanced technology, enable operational efficiency and clinical safety, and rapidly improve patient access to high-quality treatment options.
“We are excited to partner with AC Health to establish the first cancer specialty hospital in the Philippines. We are committed to our mission of improving patient outcomes while reducing the cost of cancer care, especially in countries that need it most. Our strategic partnership with AC Health spans the entire cancer care continuum from diagnosis through treatment and follow up, and our vision is fully aligned with AC Health’s goal to provide quality and affordable comprehensive cancer care to Filipinos,” Andrew Shogan, Senior Vice President of CTSI added.
The hospital will be built at the FTI Complex in Taguig City, adjacent to Ayala Land’s Arca South development. Arca South is envisioned to be the next mixed-use commercial, residential, and transportation hub. This central location provides easy accessibility for residents of the Greater Metro Manila Area, as well as for patients flying in from the provinces, owing to its proximity to NAIA.
IN PHOTO (L-R): Seated – Ruby Chiong, AC Health Treasurer and CFO; Paolo Borromeo, AC Health President and CEO; Ariel Buenaventura, FTI President and CEO; John Gabriel Trinidad III, FTI Vice President for Operations; Standing – Ivan Arota, AC Health Consultant; Dr. Rizzy Alejandro, AC Health Strategy and External Affairs Head; Jenara “Nona” Ong, Zodiac Health Ventures CEO; Julian Musico, FTI Vice President for Business Support; Atty. Ryan Martinez, FTI Vice President for Corporate Affairs
“The Food Terminal Incorporated is delighted and encouraged that AC Health will be using the FTI lot to build a stand-alone cancer hospital that will provide comprehensive high quality and affordable cancer care services. FTI’s new strategic direction under the current administration’s AMBISYON NATIN 2020 aspires for a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life. It is hoped that this ground-breaking partnership between AC Health and FTI for cancer treatment will make this dream a reality,” FTI President and CEO Ariel Buenaventura added.
In 2019, AC Health reported that it would invest over P2Bn for the facility. The cancer hospital will be a specialized center, equipped with diagnostic equipment (including a PET Scan), chemotherapy facilities, linear accelerators for advanced radiation therapy, and operating rooms for the specialist surgeons. Apart from offering a comprehensive range of services, the hospital will be led by some of the top local oncologists. As part of the hospital’s leadership, AC Health has established a Medical Advisory Council, composed of leading local medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, as well as experts from CTSI and other specialists, to assist in the design and development of the hospital.
In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, AC Health responded to the difficulty that both cancer patients and oncologists face as they seek treatment, by repurposing Healthway Medical Greenbelt 5 into a cancer specific unit that will serve the needs of oncology patients. The Chemotherapy Infusion Center at Healthway Greenbelt 5, which meets DOH regulatory and safety standards, can accommodate up to 15 cancer patients for chemotherapy per day.
With the finalization of the partnership and site, construction will begin in early 2021, and the hospital is expected to be operational in 2023.