Filipinos deserve better

Dr. Stuart Bennett leads The Medical City towards affordable, accessible care


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Dr. Stuart Bennett

 

While Filipinos are known for their resilience, the healthcare system often puts this trait to the test. Long waits and high costs for quality care reveal a system struggling with inefficiencies.

This reality is starkly evident in the frustratingly long lines snaking through hospital hallways – a common sight that causes many Filipinos to furrow their brows. More often than not, these long lines translate to delayed relief for the sick. Sometimes, tragically, death comes first, even before a patient's name is called.

Dr. Stuart Bennett, the new President and Group CEO of The Medical City (TMC) – the largest hospital and clinic network in the Philippines – is determined to cut through these lines and address these systemic issues. A former naval surgeon and military officer with the UK Royal Navy, Dr. Bennett has a history of working in high-stress environments, from combat zones to field hospitals. Perhaps this explains his intense drive and focus. The son of a priest, Dr. Bennett now sees his calling in healing a different kind of wound: the Philippines' sluggish healthcare processes.

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Dr. Stuart Bennett wearing his green beret. The green beret is worn by Royal Marines Commandos and other Royal Navy personnel who have completed the Commando Course.

 

"We spent a lot of time trying to fix it," Dr. Bennett shared in an interview with the Manila Bulletin, referring to efforts to improve patient flow, speed up diagnoses, and enhance collaboration in the emergency room (ER). According to Dr. Bennett, patients can now expect shorter waiting times, averaging three to four hours from registration to admission.

He's only been in the Philippines for around three months, but the question begs to be asked: Why, among other developing countries, did he choose the Philippines? His answer: the country's healthcare system is "truly world-class and yet often overlooked in the region."

By "world-class," he clarifies, he means that Filipino medical professionals are highly skilled. He also sees parallels between Filipino culture and his own Italian heritage, both deeply rooted in Catholicism. "Friendly people, too," he adds. He even once shared the stage with the local band Itchyworms, vibing along to their rendition of The Beatles' classic, "Hey Jude."

"There's a culture of, despite all odds, people still battle through and they still carry on and they still manage to get the job done, and I think that's a very valuable DNA," Dr. Bennett observed. However, he also believes this resilience has a downside. It has normalized waiting, enduring, and accepting less. Filipinos seem to have lost the ability to complain, despite living with patience-thinning traffic, a chain of calamities, and infrastructure issues, to name a few. "Sometimes they should complain more," he urges, to guide leaders, including himself, on areas needing improvement.

"In a country where people really expect less, I want to be able to deliver them more," he declares, with the conviction of a hero fighting for his homeland. He assures Filipinos that they shouldn't have to leave the country to receive quality medical treatment.

Dr. Bennett, a father himself, is working to make pediatric liver transplants more accessible by reducing costs and creating near-zero-profit packages to prevent families from seeking treatment abroad.

A hospital not just for the elite

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Dr. Stuart Bennett with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, TMC and Rizal Medical Center doctors during the TMC- RMC Joint Liver Transplant Program MOA signing

 

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Dr. Bennett delivering his message during theTMC-RMC Joint Liver Transplant ProgramMOA signing

 

According to Dr. Bennett, pediatric liver transplants often have willing donors, but financial constraints remain the primary challenge. He assures that affordable financial packages are in development, setting aside the profiteering that hospitals have traditionally prioritized.

"We don't want to be the hospital for the elite. We also don't want to be a low-value volume play. We want to be somewhere in the middle where we provide high-quality services but at a price point which is reasonable for everybody," Dr. Bennett explained, drawing on the finance expertise he honed through an advanced business program and his work in finance and private equity.

"If you have the best assets and the best resources, why should they only be accessible to a small part of the population, right?" he emphasized. For TMC, these top-tier services "should be accessible to as many people as possible." His conviction is palpable.

This philosophy drives Dr. Bennett's vision for TMC to be "the best healthcare provider, not only in the Philippines, but hopefully in Asia." His time as a Navy Commando, where he earned the prestigious Green Beret, instilled in him a dedication to rigorous training and excellence.

He sees the Philippines as a promising recruit, needing holistic development – from clinical outcomes and staff training to hospital construction and, above all, patient experience – to become a leader in healthcare. He envisions a future where every patient who comes to TMC feels confident in the hospital's care and leaves in better condition than when they arrived.

"Being the best doesn't mean having the biggest national footprint. It means that every single person, when you ask them, 'If you were sick, where would you first choose to go?' The answer should be: The Medical City," he says, his eyes conveying the same unwavering belief.

Avoid the “white elephant” illness

An expert in hospital design and construction, Dr. Bennett offers his diagnosis for the Philippine healthcare industry: avoid the construction of ill-planned, unsustainable hospital projects.

"Around the world, there are many vanity projects and many white elephants when it comes to hospitals, especially in emerging markets," he observes. "Unfortunately, a lot of people start with a building and then they build a business plan around it, right? And that's the wrong way around."

"Ideally, you don't have to overbuild; it doesn't have to be a palace, it just has to be a functional building," he stresses. Value-engineered projects would prevent the failures commonly seen in some geographies including South East Asia.

He's witnessed firsthand the consequences of this trend: investors pouring money into overbuilt, complex, and costly hospitals, leading to long recovery periods of 10 to 15 years.

However, he notes that investors are learning the value of detailed planning and consultation. Dr. Bennett and his team prioritize efficiency and effectiveness by fostering collaboration between skilled architects, designers, and hospital staff.

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Dr. Bennett with executives and team members of The Medical City during the company's Christmas gift-giving last December 2024

 

The country is navigating a sea of challenges. Dr. Bennett, who once had to emergency surface a two-billion-pound nuclear submarine in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean within 15 seconds, due to a suspected flood in part of the boat, is now applying his crisis management skills to a different kind of vessel. He's taking the helm of Philippine healthcare, determined to steer it towards a brighter future.