AC Health, Qualimed host ceremonial vaccination, first outside Metro Manila to receive AstraZeneca doses

Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) launched a vaccination drive for its doctors and healthcare workers at QualiMed Hospital Sta. Rosa, the first hospital outside of Metro Manila to receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines. A total of 600 AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines were provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Health, in collaboration with the local government of Laguna. All 600 doses have been allocated to volunteer recipients.

The ceremonial vaccination led by Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and COO of Ayala Corporation, and Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health, is a precursor to COVIDShield – AC Health's large-scale COVID-19 vaccination initiative in support of the Philippine National Vaccine Deployment Program. The QualiMed Health Network was represented by Dr. Edwin Mercado, Vice-Chairman of QualiMed's founding group Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI), and Jimmy Ysmael, President and CEO of the QualiMed Health Network. Also in attendance were Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Taskforce Against COVID-19, Sec. Vince Dizon, Deputy Chief Implementer, Sta. Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Dr. Aleli Sudiacal, DOH Director III for Field Implementation and Coordination, and Dr. Noel Pasion, DOH Region IV Local Health Support Division Chief.

In Photo (L-R): Margaret Bengzon, Qualimed Health Network SVP for Operations; Dr. Noel Pasion, DOH Region IV Local Health Support Division Chief; Paolo Borromeo, AC Health President and CEO; Sec. Vince Dizon, National Taskforce Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer; Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation President and COO; Dr. Edwin Mercado, QualiMed's founding group Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI) Vice-Chairman; Hon. Arlene Arcillas, Sta. Rosa Mayor; Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., National Taskforce Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer; Jimmy Ysmael, QualiMed Health Network President and CEO; Dr. Gina Nazareth, QualiMed Health Network Consultant for Patient Safety and Quality Management

“The Ayala Group and AC Health have always been strong supporters of the National Vaccine Deployment Program. I am delighted to see all the efforts of the government and private sector come to fruition with the launching of the National Vaccine Program. Moreover, it has been encouraging to see other healthcare institutions support the IATF’s and DOH’s efforts. This gives me hope that in addition to providing much-needed protection for individuals, the vaccines will eventually reduce the burden to our healthcare system, stem disease transmission, and accelerate the path to recovery for our country,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and COO of Ayala Corporation.

“We are honored and privileged to have been included by the DOH and IATF as first recipients outside of Metro Manila for the AstraZeneca vaccines, as well as some doses of the Sinovac vaccines. Our healthcare workers are extremely grateful to be given this additional layer of protection, and we hope this will also encourage more Filipinos to be vaccinated too. For our part, we look forward to contributing to the country’s vaccination efforts as we gear up for large-scale administration. We have identified and are setting up nearly 20 mega-sites nationwide with a goal to administer 1,000,000 doses by 2021,” said Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health.   

Through COVIDShield, AC Health has combined the extensive resources of QualiMed, Healthway, and HealthNow to offer an end-to-end COVID-19 vaccination program, which complements public sector efforts to vaccinate majority of Filipinos by the end of the year. HealthNow, powered by AC Health’s Vigos Health and Globe’s 917Ventures, is a primary care platform that offers telemedicine consultations, online medicine ordering and delivery, and clinic and diagnostic testing booking. It will serve as the platform for masterlisting, prioritization, screening, and scheduling, aligned with government standards and systems. The platform will also maintain patient records, produce vaccination passports, report adverse reactions, and perform data analytics. QualiMed and Healthway will lead the administration of vaccines, in line with DOH and LGU guidelines.

QualiMed Sta. Rosa is part of QualiMed Health Network, the healthcare chain whose majority ownership was recently acquired by AC Health through its subsidiary Healthway Philippines, Inc.

The first to be vaccinated during the event were key doctors of QualiMed, led by Dr. Edwin Mercado, Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs of MGHI, Dr. Lilibeth Maravilla, Medical Director of QualiMed Sta. Rosa, and Dr. Gina Nazareth, Consultant for Patient Safety and Quality Management, QualiMed Health Network.

In Photo: Dr. Edwin Mercado, Vice-Chairman of QualiMed's founding group Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI), first healthcare worker outside of Metro Manila to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine

"Participation in this program is a vital exercise for our healthcare teams in promoting COVID vaccine acceptance. By vaccinating ourselves, we are not only protecting our teams but our patients as well. To succeed against this pandemic, vaccination is crucial in providing safer and more reliable healthcare to our patients," said Jimmy Ysmael, newly-appointed President and CEO of the QualiMed Health Network.

Vaccination of healthcare teams and other front liners under the Ayala Group and the AC Health network will continue in the following months, pending the delivery of procured vaccines from manufacturers and the allocation of vaccines by the national government.