LIPA CITY, Batangas — Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (Mediatrix) officially inaugurated a significant P500 million expansion building today, September 16. This project is poised to transform the health and wellness landscape of the leading tertiary-level hospital and referral center in Southern Luzon. This monumental investment is a clear demonstration of the hospital’s dedication to providing world-class medical services and creating new economic opportunities for the local community.
The new facility is a direct response to a pressing healthcare need in the region, particularly regarding the high incidence of heart attack cases. The expansion includes a newly opened catheterization (cath) lab, making Mediatrix only one of two hospitals in the Philippines to offer this life-saving procedure. In addition, the hospital has partnered with local healthcare units through its Code “Heart of Batangas” (HB) Program to ensure timely and efficient cardiac care delivery.
The P500 million investment covers state-of-the-art medical equipment and a host of new facilities. The expansion building features a modern Emergency Department, 40 new patient rooms, and a new Wellness Center. It also includes a dedicated lounge area and 8-bed Neurological Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU), which is part of the hospital’s new Neuroscience Center or “Brain Institute.” The new facility also allows Mediatrix to serve as a self-contained isolation unit, a proactive measure to enhance public health needs while offering a wide range of advanced services.
According to Mediatrix President and CEO Jose Ronaldo H. De Los Santos, “This investment is a strategic move by Mary Mediatrix Medical Center & Mount Grace Hospitals to increase capacity and reinforce its top standing in healthcare in Southern Luzon.” Mount Grace Hospitals, Inc. (MGHI) is one of the country’s expanding network of 25 trusted hospitals in key urban areas nationwide.
With this expansion, the hospital is on track to become the largest private hospital in Southern Luzon, with plans to increase its capacity from the current 210 beds to 240 by early next year and ultimately reaching 300 beds by 2030. The expansion is also expected to hire 20 to 30 new doctors annually, specializing in cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, pediatrics, gastroenterology, and surgery, as it plans to adopt robotic medical procedures in the near future.
Currently, Mediatrix is actively hiring 120 nurses, offering a crucial boost to local employment. While the numbers are impressive, the real story is not in the physical expansion but in the philosophy behind it. As quoted by Allan Almazar, SVP for Operations: “Our bias for quickaction and response to our patients’ and communities’ needs shows that our patients are always at the center of every decision we make, even if it means a significant increase in resources.”
The new building’s design meets rigorous international standards, ensuring patients receive the highest level of care they deserve. This is never just corporate-speak in a region where access to specialized care can be a matter of life and death. The investment is a testament to the idea that a hospital’s value is measured not just in its size but in its unwavering commitment to serving its people. | Sheenalei Briana G. Rayos
