AC Health’s cancer hospital reaches 75% completion; set to open in Q3

IN PHOTO (L to R): Dr. Kaye Recto, Corporate Strategy and Development, AC Health; Ms. Ruby Chiong, Chief Finance Officer, Healthway Cancer Care Hospital; Ms. Nona Ong, Chief Operating Officer, Healthway Cancer Care Hospital; Mr. Jimmy Ysmael, President and CEO, Healthway Philippines, Inc.; Mr. Bong Consing, President and CEO, Ayala Corporation; Mr. Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Adviser to the Board, Ayala Corporation; Mr. Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO, AC Health; Engr. Art Carlos, President, Constech Management Group, Inc.; Ar. Dan Lichauco, Managing Partner, Archion Architects; Mr. RJ Recio, Corporate Strategy and Development Head, AC Health; Mr. Jay Simeon, Supply Chain and Facilities Management Head, Healthway Cancer Care Hospital; Mr. Archie Guinto, Facilities Manager, Healthway Cancer Care Hospital

MANILA – AC Health’s Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, the country’s first dedicated cancer hospital, has reached 75 percent completion and is set to open in the third quarter of this year.  

Ayala Corporation's Fernando Zobel de Ayala, who led the groundbreaking of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in 2021, joined AC Health and Ayala Corp. project leads in a site visit to the country's first dedicated cancer facility last week.  

“I would like to congratulate the AC Health and the Healthway teams for this significant progress since we broke ground almost two years ago. The progress of this facility clearly shows the Ayala group's vision to build the country's first dedicated cancer specialty hospital. Soon, hundreds of Filipino cancer patients will have access to high quality but affordable cancer care,” Zobel said.  

Joining Zobel at the site visit were Ayala Corporation President and CEO Bong Consing, AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo, Healthway Philippines Inc. President and CEO Jaime Ysmael, Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Chief Operating Officer Jenara Ong, and Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Chief Finance Officer Ruby Chiong.

“We are very privileged to have our leaders here today. The swift progress of the hospital’s construction would not have been possible without the strong support of our leaders and shareholders from Ayala Corporation,” said Borromeo during the visit.

The Healthway Cancer Care Hospital will be the first comprehensive and dedicated cancer hospital in the country offering a complete range of cancer services, from screening, diagnosis, treatment, to post-cancer care. Equipped with 18 chemotherapy infusion units, two linear accelerators (LINACs), and all the essential diagnostic and imaging machines, the hospital will be focused on improving the overall patient experience and enabling multi-disciplinary cancer care.  

Borromeo also presented updates on the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital to cancer patients and advocates, healthcare providers and practitioners, government officials, and international experts at the Philippine National Cancer Summit held on February 23 to 24 at Crowne Plaza Galleria, Quezon City.

The event was organized by the Philippine College of Surgeons - Cancer Commission Foundation to rally stakeholders in the battle against cancer.

Drawing from AC Health’s experience in putting up the country’s first dedicated cancer hospital, Borromeo spoke about the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in bridging the cancer care gap in the Philippines.

“I am a big believer that the private and public sectors should work hand-in-hand towards improving oncology care here in the Philippines. In no other industry is collaboration more evident than in healthcare, as we saw firsthand during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Borromeo.

Borromeo also shared how AC Health continues to work with like-minded partners, such as Siemens Healthineers and Varian, to help realize the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital’s vision of providing more affordable oncology care in the country.  

“Our goal is to offer the best value private hospital for cancer care. We are working with our partners to ensure that our cancer hospital will provide very competitive rates for diagnostics, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery to a broader base of Filipino patients,” said Borromeo.

Varian – Cancer Treatment Services International Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Amy Hay also participated in the summit and affirmed their commitment to bring in global best practices to strengthen the services of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital.

In the special panel discussion, “A Closer Look at Cancer Centers,” AC Health Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Maria Carissa Alejandro further elaborated on interventions in reducing the cost of cancer care and how these can be applied in building the country’s first dedicated cancer hospital.  

“Health services need to go beyond pricing and focus on creating greater value for patients. We hope that the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital will serve as a model for more affordable cancer care in the Philippines,” said Alejandro.