PBBM gets P800-M pledge; 1,500 new jobs eyed in medical BPO
WASHINGTON, D.C.
—The Philippines has secured an P800-million investment in medical business process outsourcing (BPO) that would create around 1,500 jobs.
(Photo courtesy of PCO)
In a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, May 2, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. received the investment pledge made by American healthcare services provider Optum, a part of UnitedHealth Group (UHG). Optum President John Prince said the firm is committed to the Philippines, and lauded the "strategic partnership that we have for a very long time." "I’m a really big believer that great things happen to great teams and we have a great team in the Philippines,” said Prince, adding that the investment is part of the company’s efforts to broaden its operations. In March this year, Optum met with the Board of Investments (BOI) to discuss details of their planned new project in Davao and queries on importation of equipment. Since 2011, it has invested P5.1 billion in capital expenditure in operating four sites in Taguig, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, and Cebu City. UHG’s Optum business in the country provides a broad range of healthcare information management services, including clinical, revenue cycle management, pharmacy services and benefit management, payment integrity, quality and risk adjustment, technology, and other services delivered across voice, non-voice and blended processes. In one of his meetings on Tuesday, BPO company Atento said it is poised to build facilities in the Philippines, bringing more jobs to the country. Atento will put up its first call center in the Philippines at the Iloilo Business Park in Madurriao, Iloilo.