Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health), a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, has launched the Healthway Cancer Center Hospital (HCCH), the first specialized cancer hospital in the Philippines. This initiative aims to provide affordable cancer care to Filipino patients, addressing a critical healthcare gap.
AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo revealed that annually, over 100,000 cancer cases are diagnosed in the country, with many patients unable to receive treatment due to financial constraints. HCCH is designed to be the “most cost-competitive private sector cancer facility” in the Philippines, offering services at about 10 to 20 percent lower costs than other major hospitals.
The construction of HCCH, which cost P3 billion, was carried out with efficiency and cost-effectiveness in mind. Key partnerships with Siemens Healthineers and Varian have been instrumental in securing premium equipment at lower costs, enabling affordable diagnostics like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
HCCH has also formed alliances with major pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD), and AstraZeneca. These collaborations have resulted in more affordable cancer medications. For example, a lung cancer drug by AstraZeneca, typically costing P10,000 per pill, is offered at HCCH for P4,000.
The hospital, located in Arca South by Ayala Land, Inc. in Taguig, spans five floors and includes 100 beds, specialized operating theaters, and advanced endoscopy rooms. It also boasts an expanded outpatient chemotherapy unit and an integrated outpatient department with a specialized women’s health center.
In terms of accommodation, HCCH offers private rooms at P3,000 to P4,000 per night and studio-type wards at around P1,500 per night. Additional services and devices are priced 10 to 20 percent cheaper than in major hospitals.
HCCH is set to open its services in phases, with a full opening targeted for the first week of January 2024. The inauguration of the hospital was attended by President Marcos, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and other dignitaries.