By Neil Jerome C. Morales (The
Philippine Star) | Updated March 24, 2014 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - Metro Pacific
Investments Corp.’s (MPIC) healthcare group is increasing its portfolio through
the acquisition of as many as four hospitals this year.
The country’s largest hospital chain
is also improving its business model through new healthcare delivery like
mall-based clinics and telehealth, its official said.
In an interview, Augusto P. Palisoc
Jr., president and CEO of the MPIC’s healthcare group, said the company wants
to acquire as much as four hospitals this year.
“We continue to talk to hospital
owners all over the country to see where our next investments should go,”
Palisoc said.
But the group is confident of
acquiring at least one hospital this year, which is in line with the historical
trend, Palisoc said.
The healthcare arm of infrastructure
conglomerate MPIC allotted up to P4 billion for its capital spending
requirements this year.
Palisoc said it includes the funding
needs for acquisition and operational requirements for individual hospitals.
Last year, MPIC’s healthcare unit
completed the purchase of a 51-percent stake in Quezon City-based De Los Santos
Medical Center Inc. (DLSMC). It also bought a majority stake in Central Luzon
Doctors’ Hospital in Tarlac.
Palisoc said the company targets to
hit 2,500 beds with the acquisition of one or two new hospitals. In three
years, the healthcare chain will reach 3,000 beds from the current 2,137.
MPIC’s hospital group is also
venturing into new healthcare delivery systems.
“We will continue to look at other
healthcare delivery processes in addition to the normal hospital investments we
have traditionally made,” Palisoc said.
For instance, it is studying the
mall-based clinics business. In June, the company acquired DLSMC affiliate De
Los Santos-STI Megaclinic Inc., a 2,000-square-meter ambulatory and diagnostic
center located in SM Megamall.
The hospital group targets to launch
five to 10 mall-based clinics in the next three to five years.
“I think a lot of people are also
talking about telehealth at the moment. This is something interesting,” Palisoc
said, adding that the company is piloting a telehealth service through Asian
Hospital.
According to the Telecare Services
Association, telehealth is the remote exchange of data between a patient at
home and their doctors to assist in diagnosis and monitoring. It takes
advantage of digital technologies to deliver medical care, health education and
public health services.
“Our intention is to eventually find a
way to make that a sustainable economic activity,” he said, adding that the
Philippines as an archipelagic country will benefit from telehealth.
Aggregate core net income of the
country’s largest hospital group spiked 22 percent to P879 million last year
due to increasing patient revenues, gains from completed capital expenditure
programs and savings from group synergy projects.
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