A better Makati Medical Center expected in 2008

Makati City’s premiere hospital promises to be bigger and better by mid-2008 with the expected completion of a billion-peso expansion project, which will give rise to a brand new building.

Makati Medical Center president Richard Ferrer, in an interview, said the new structure will house five floors of parking space which will finally solve the hospital’s parking woes.

"The groundbreaking is set for Feb. 6. The mood here is upbeat. They are very excited," he told The Star, referring to doctors, medical staff, and employees who are looking forward to working on a bigger and improved medical facility.

Ferrer said the plan is to construct a new building that would be five floors below ground and seven floors above ground.

The floors below, he explained, will serve as a parking garage which will hopefully be big enough for 400 to 500 vehicles. The floors above ground will house ambulatory offices like laboratories, diagnostics, pharmacy, doctor’s clinics, among others.

Ferrer said there would be no patient wards or nursing rooms in the new facility because the old building, which is also undergoing renovation, will be dedicated for patients.

According to him, the new building will rise on the present parking lot which will have to be closed during the construction. He said the hospital will lease more parking spaces at the Ayala parking lot beside the hospital for the time being.

"It will be a completely new Makati Medical Center in two years in terms of infrastructure," Ferrer proudly said noting that the hospital is back on its feet and is now doing well financially.

"We’re okay. We have P300 million in the bank. We have recovered from that," he said in response to how Makati Medical suffered from financial trouble in 2005 which even resulted in the retrenchment of some 300 personnel.

Makati Medical Center Employees Association (Mamacea) president Willy Pulia said hospital workers are very happy with how the administration has managed to get the hospital back in financial health.

"Of course we are all very happy. We have survived the storm. Employees are no longer afraid because they enjoy job security," he told The Star.

He also lauded the hospital management for giving them bonuses that went beyond what they asked for or expected last December.

Pulia said they are looking forward to working at the new building which will make the hospital more competitive in the coming years.

"It’s like our old taxi is being replaced by a new one. The best thing about it is that the new taxi has the same meter and the same plug rate. More will patronize the MMC and we will be able to give patients even better services without asking them to pay more," he said.

Pulia assured that Mamacea members will continue to work with dedication to help the hospital management achieve its goals. "We will have a competitive and high-quality hospital with dedicated and happy workers who provide service a smile and service with a heart."