PhilCare relocates Manila clinic

MANILA, Philippines - PhilhealthCare Inc. (PhilCare) is investing time and money to make its medical services as well as its affiliated doctors and hospital affiliates more accessible.

PhilCare is a health maintenance organization (HMO) affiliated with the STI Investments Inc. Other affiliates are STI schools, PhilPlans Inc., i-Academy Inc., and PhilLife Financial.

It relocated its Manila clinic from UN Avenue to Roxas Boulevard (across the US Embassy), making it more accessible to its members.

The clinic is a full-service and primary care clinic with new and upgraded facilities.  It offers consultations for the following specializations: cardiology, dermatology, orthopedic surgery, EENT, gastroenterology, internal medicine, OB-gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, pulmonology, general surgery and primary care.

PhilCare president and chief executive officer Maria Noemi G. Azura said that PhilCare members and walk-in patients can also avail of the following services, such as full laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound, ECG, minor surgical procedures and annual physical examinations (APE). 

It will also offer drug testing, audiometry testing and dental services before the end of the year.

Azura said the HMO will open two primary care clinics (PCC) – one in The Medical City (TMC) Pasig and another at the Makati Medical Center - within the first semester to service its members going to these hospitals.

“We invested P35 million for these facilities,” the chief executive said.

Another P16-million was invested in a new technology platform to support robust operations and improve customer experience.

Members can download its mobile app known as PhilCare Go! to promote convenient information access to its members.  GoMobile is an Android application that can be downloaded for free in Google Play. 

GoMobile allows members to view their medical information, health plan coverage and benefits package, latest availments, and annual physical examination schedule.  It also helps members to search and locate PhilCare’s 900 affiliated clinics and hospitals nationwide.

It likewise has a website for general corporate information as well as a repository of health information where members and non-members can begin their journey to good health. The new website contains health articles covering various topics.

Azura said that PhilCare will be introducing new products and services this year, coming from positive performances in 2013.

Overall revenue grew to P1.5 billion from the previous year’s P1.44 billion, with new business accounting for 17 percent of total revenue.

It expanded its membership base to 260,000 individual and 1,000 corporate accounts. Aside from the 900 affiliate hospitals and clinics, it also expanded its affiliate doctors to 29,000.

It has a 40-seat call center designed to expand to nearly 60 by the end of the year.

“We are also seeking partnerships to enhance services for our members,” Azura added.