Japanese hospital chain seeks Favila‘s help in $100-M proj in RP

Japanese hospital chain Tokushukai Medical Corp. (TMC) has sought the help of current Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila regarding its planned $100-million medical facility at the Public Estates Authority (PEA) reclamation area in Roxas Boulevard.

TMC had first approached then Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima regarding the medical facility and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed on Oct. 15, 2004 regarding the project.

TMC was supposed to do its groundbreaking by April 15, 2005.

TMC was eyeing a 60-hectare unsold area of the reclamation site.

Unfortunately, the TMC project failed to solidify supposedly due to the expensive cost of the PEA property which would have increased the cost of the planned medical facility.

The government offered alternative sites in Subic, Clark and Alabang which TMC rejected.

According to Favila, TMC chairman Torao Tokuda had explained that TMC prefers to relocate in capital cities to be able to generate adequate revenues which it can then plow back or invest in additional medical facilities.

Because of the continued delay in the TMC project in the Philippines, TMC has been able to proceed with two similar projects in Sofia, Bulgaria and in Gabon.

Favila assured Tokuda that he would look into the problem with PEA and hopefully resolve the problem so that TMC can finally proceed with its project.

Tokuda had also informed Favila that his choice of the Philippines stemmed from his previous friendship with former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

TMC plans to put up a nursing facility, a retirement center and hospital.

TMC is also supposed to apply with the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) to designate its planned medical facility 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.

By accrediting foreign medical practitioners, foreign patients become more comfortable (with the idea) that quality of care of hospitals ran by Japanese doctors would be the same as those in Japan.

The planned 1,000 bed hospital would be named the Benigno Aquino Memorial Hospital and would make available quality medical care for Filipinos, foreigners and to the Japanese community in the Philippines.

Talks between TMC and the government started in September 2004 when Purisima visited Japan for a trade mission.

Purisima had pointed out then that "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 employes.

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.