Global Care Medical Center (GCMC), one of the Philippines’ leading regional healthcare providers, is accelerating its expansion after securing a new investment partnership with private equity firms Navegar and LeapFrog Investments.

GCMC chairman Ricardo Celino said the expansion is being driven by the capital and strategic support from the partnership, which was formally launched on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

“This is very promising. We have a lot of expansion plans,” Celino told reporters on the sidelines of the launch.

As part of the upgrades, GCMC has constructed a new medical arts building and added private rooms, including 30 additional private rooms at its Cabuyao hospital. The facility has also established a catheterization laboratory, acquired an MRI machine, installed 20 additional dialysis chairs, and expanded its laboratory services.

Celino said the improvements significantly enhance the Cabuyao hospital’s capabilities and are expected to strengthen its competitiveness this year.

In Pangasinan, Celino said construction of a new hospital is ongoing as part of the group’s expansion program, with completion targeted by mid-next year.

“They are here to help to improve our services and of course to serve all unserved communities, meaning we have to look for other opportunities,” he said.

Looking ahead, Celino said the partnership will also enable future acquisitions.

“For the improvements of our global hospitals, now we allocated funds for the improvements of our global hospitals and of course we allocated also for the acquisition of some hospitals,” he said.

Juan Carlos Camara, Navegar’s vice president for origination, said the firm remains open to rapid expansion across sectors in the Philippines.

Navegar is a Manila-based private equity firm that backs high-growth Philippine companies, providing capital and hands-on operational support to help them scale in increasingly complex business environments.

“Navegar really invests in the Philippines and yes, we've made investments in all sectors, most sectors in the Philippines,” Camara said, adding that the firm takes an opportunistic approach depending on opportunities it encounters.

He said Navegar has been closely monitoring the Philippine healthcare sector and identified GCMC as a standout due to its management team and the deliberate way the platform was built.

Camara noted that GCMC’s expansion has been measured and anchored on strong clinical standards, with a focus on quality of care rather than rapid scaling, giving the firm confidence in the hospital network’s long-term growth prospects.

Meanwhile, Biju Mohandas, partner and global lead for healthcare at LeapFrog Investments, said the deal marks the firm’s first investment in the Philippines and reflects its confidence in the country’s economic growth.

He said that as healthcare demand rises, GCMC has been delivering high-quality and accessible services, particularly to underserved communities.

Mohandas added that LeapFrog sees significant opportunities to build on GCMC’s foundation by expanding specialty care, pursuing responsible growth, and improving patient outcomes.

He said LeapFrog, together with Navegar, will take an active role in supporting GCMC’s next phase of expansion while advancing clinical excellence and inclusive impact.