True and efficient Universal Health Care has always been the pipe dream. While the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, Republic Act No. 11223, was passed in 2019, with key features that included Automatic Enrollment, Primary Care Focus, Financial Protection, and Integrated Health Systems; the harsh reality of our fragmented healthcare infrastructure makes this vision more of a mirage. Besides the severe shortage of medical professionals, with many of the better qualified opting to work abroad; there are also underfunded facilities, plus bureaucratic roadblocks.

Inadequate rural infrastructure makes access to basic diagnostics a limited scenario in the countryside, with no acceptable basic standard for LGUs across the board. Some will be super-efficient and impressive, while others woefully lacking in resources. In fairness, there has been a lot of progress since 2019, but we still face an uphill struggle; a battle that’s being waged daily. As it’s not like we can say stop getting sick, contracting lethal diseases, or dying; while we first fix and upgrade the system.

For a typical Thai citizen, their Universal Health Care Coverage Scheme, has their out of pocket (OOP) medical expenses representing around 10 percent of total health expenditures (Data Bank/The World Bank). Contrast that to here in the Philippines, where the average Filipino citizen has to directly shoulder around 41.2 percent of their health care expenditures (Philippine Statistics Authority). This despite the National Insurance and Government programs that exist. So you can immediately see how there’s so much room for improvement.

So that’s why I’m always ready to feature and support the private companies who are ready to take on the responsibility, and be among the leading healthcare providers in this nation. The Healthway Medical Network (HMN) is dedicated to delivering exceptional care and improving the lives of Filipinos. A wholly-owned subsidiary of AC Health, the healthcare arm of the Ayala Corporation; HMN operates via integrating four major business units - Healthway Multi-Specialty Clinics, Healthway QualiMed Hospitals, the Healthway FEU-NRMF Medical Center, and the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital. The Cancer Care Hospital I’ve written about extensively; being witness to its’ rise in Arca South, and its’ inauguration in November, 2023.

The Healthway Medical Network represents more than 2,000 physicians, and 2,500 allied health professionals. From prevention to rehabilitation, HMN prides itself on its personalized humancentric care, and how it is supported by advancing health technology. It also promotes PhilHealth alignment, to help make care accessible, and medication affordable — supporting UHC mandates.

Just last month, in July, AC Health opened the Healthway Multi-Specialty Center at One Ayala, and it now stands as their flagship outpatient facility in Makati. It used to exist at Greenbelt; but in the interest of access ability, it is now housed in a building that’s also one of Metro Manila’s busiest transport hubs.

As Paolo Borromeo, AC Health CEO was ready to explain, “By bringing comprehensive, specialist-led care closer to where Filipinos commute every day, we are making it easier to prioritize health without disrupting work, family, or daily responsibilities. From consultations and diagnostics to ambulatory procedures, dialysis, women’s health services, and seamless access to pharmacy care through St. Joseph Drug, Powered by Sugi, every element of this center was designed around the patient experience.”

Elevating and upgrading the patient experience is what this Center prioritizes. And because of its’ strategic location at Level 4 of the One Ayala Mall, there’s a diverse range of offerings for Food while one waits for results; and even for those accompanying the patient, the Mall offers endless possibilities of how to spend one’s waiting time.

As for the Center itself, before it was opened to the assembled media, Dra. Michelle Anievas had overheard how I had to leave even before the lunch would be served, and offered to tour me around. And can I say right here that I was very impressed with how much they packed into the Center, given that it’s in the mall, and not a standalone hospital or medical facility.

The Dialysis Center has twelve stations, and is equipped with the latest dialysis machines. There is an ambulatory surgery center for outpatient procedures, and diagnostics and imaging services are found in another of the rooms. Executive check-ups and rehabilitation facilities are also offered here – and as I live across Ayala Avenue, I loved them saying that my next PSAT (Prostate Specific Antigen Test) could be done there. After my brush with Prostate Cancer in 2021, my urologist requires I submit PSAT results every six months.

A dedicated Women’s Center offers Mammograms, OB and Breast Ultrasound. And as the media press con stressed, the big idea was to integrate within the network. So that an oncologist could see patients at One Ayala, then recommend they transfer to Arca South.

Healthway is literally showing the way, and playing its role, in moving us closer to true Universal Health Care.