Japanese hospital chain to build $100-M facility at PEA

Japanese hospital chain Tokushukai Medical Corp. (TMC) has finally decided to put up its planned $100-million medical facility at the Public Estates Authority (PEA) reclamation area in Roxas Boulevard.

This was disclosed yesterday by Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima who added that TMC has set its groundbreaking by April 15.

TMC is eyeing a 60-hectare unsold area of the reclamation site. According to Purisima, TMC plans to put up a nursing facility, a retirement center and hospital.

Tokushukai, Purisima said, can apply with the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) as a medical zone.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had previously proposed the creation of medical zones where foreign medical personnel can practice.

Purisima said that by accrediting foreign medical practitioners, "their patients become more comfortable (with the idea) that quality of care of hospitals here run by Japanese doctors will be the same as those back home."

TMC had signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DTI last Oct. 15. 2004 for the establishment of a $100-million medical facility that would boost the Philippines’ bid to become a medical tourism destination.

The MOA paved the way for the construction of the 1,000-bed capacity hospital by TMC, the largest healthcare provider in Japan.

The hospital will be named the Benigno Aquino Memorial Hospital and will make available quality medical care to Filipinos, foreigners and to the Japanese community in the Philippines.

Talks between TMC and the government started in September last year when Purisima visited Japan for a trade mission.

"We made a breakthrough in terms of building or starting up our medical and retirement services targeted toward the Japanese market," Purisima said.

The trade chief said the Japanese market is more than enough for the healthcare services available in the Philippines.

"Japan is a rapidly aging country and in 10 years time their average age will be approximately 60 years old, and considering that they have one-third of the world’s savings, they have enough money to pay for our services," he said.

TMC is the largest medical services provider in Japan with over 51 hospitals, 61 clinics and 48 other medical facilities. It employs over 16,300 employees.

Purisima had earlier pointed out that the Philippines is now a relatively cheap destination for medical services.

The average capacity of Tokushukai’s hospitals are 190 to 600 beds.