Makati Life sets blueprint for PPP-led hospital expansion

MANILA, Philippines — Newly opened Makati Life Medical Center (MLMC) is positioning itself as the country’s first and largest public-private partnership (PPP) in health care, combining city government backing with private sector efficiency in a model that aims to offer both accessible and sustainable services.

During the hospital’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, MLMC president and CEO Dennis Sta. Ana said that the City Government of Makati partnered with the private sector to form a corporation that operates under private standards while remaining publicly co-owned.

“This is a new way of doing things,” Sta. Ana told reporters on the sidelines.

“Technically, it’s a 100-percent private hospital with the city as a shareholder. It’s a new model,” he said.

MLMC was built with over P10 billion in investments. It serves an estimated 700 to 850 outpatients daily through a combination of city-subsidized patients under the Yellow Card program and paying customers.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the vision for MLMC was never just about building another hospital, but about reimagining what could be achieved when government purpose is combined with private sector agility.

“Makati is only the beginning. My vision – my absolute commitment – is to see every Filipino family, regardless of where they live, accessing the same quality health care we’ve made possible here,” she said.

According to Sta. Ana, the local government reimburses hospital costs for qualified patients under the Yellow Card program, but MLMC commits to keeping costs low even for unsubsidized clients through efficiency-driven processes like utilization management and day surgeries.

The hospital is designed to accommodate 360 beds, which Sta. Ana said might fall short of demand. Instead of expanding physical infrastructure, the hospital is focusing on reducing patient length of stay and maximizing ambulatory services.

“We’re not just building for volume, we’re creating capacity,” he said.

While the hospital is not yet fully operational due to pending installation of sensitive medical equipment such as PET scanners and a linear accelerator, Sta. Ana said it has reached a “minimum viable medical center” status, with full functionality expected by the third quarter of 2025.

MLMC was the first in the Philippines to acquire an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital PET/CT scanner. This scanner provides advanced cancer detection and supports preventive care by enabling early diagnosis.

Sta. Ana also revealed the group’s broader plans under parent company Integra Healthcare Wellness Co., which is actively developing similar PPP models in other regions.

This includes the upcoming University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center project under the Marcos administration’s flagship healthcare PPP program.

“The PPP model works in roads, bridges — why not in health care? It’s time for the private sector to partner with the government to scale access and innovation,” Sta. Ana said.

While MLMC’s financial returns are still being managed conservatively, Sta. Ana said the expectation is to match private sector benchmarks while ensuring long-term sustainability.

“You don’t invest P10 billion to shut down in two years. Our focus is efficiency, and the returns will follow,” he added.