[ Manila Bulletin Online ] April 25, 2008
Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Professional Services Inc., which is majority- owned by Benpres Holdings Corp. of the Lopez Group, is investing P1.582 billion for the expansion and modernization of its tertiary hospital Medical City in Pasig in anticipation of a boom in the country’s medical tourism industry.
Aside from Benpres, the other stockholders of Professional Services are Insular Life Insurance and Splash Holdings.
The additional capacity would be used to increase capacity with an additional 250 beds, acquire modern equipment, introduce new medical services and expand the capability of existing services.
The project has been endorsed by the Department of Tourism for approval of tax and fiscal incentives by the Board of Investments under the priority sector Hospital Medical Services, Healthcare and Wellness.
The expansion project is expected to start commercial operation in July 2010 employing 150 jobs.
The Medical City has been in operation for the past 40 years and is known for world-class healthcare complex that serves some 40,000 inpatients and 380,000 outpatients a year.
It is located on a 1.5 hectare property along Ortigas Avenue in the business district of Pasig City.
It is composed of 100,000 sq.m. of floor space and includes two Nursing Towers joined by a Podium, bridgeways and a Medical Arts Tower . The first 15-storey Nursing Tower with a heliport and a Business Center is currently fitted for 500 beds. The second Nursing Tower provides capacity for an additional 300 beds.
The 18 floors of the Medical Arts Tower house 280 doctors’ clinics and selected commercial spaces, such as banks, a restaurant, a food court and a convenience store and gift shop. Located within the 6th floor Podium are diagnostic and intervention facilities, as well as support and administrative offices. The 3-basement level parking accommodates over a thousand vehicles for clients and staff.
TMC’s boasts of a distinguished medical staff of some 1,000 physicians, all of whom are experienced, recognized and established experts in their various fields of specialization – Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Anesthesiology and Psychiatry. They are complemented by physicians in other fields of diagnostics and ancillary services – Pathology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Radiation Oncology and Chemotherapy. All physicians affiliated with TMC, many of whom are internationally trained, pass a strict credentialing and privileging process.
The medical staff is supported by a 2,100-strong organization composed of allied medical and administrative staff who have honed their expertise over many years of loyal service to the institution.
TMC also serves as a hub of a network of satellite clinical facilities delivering a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to ambulatory patients. The satellite network demonstrates TMC’s commitment to bring its unique brand of health services right into the communities of its patients.
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