Written by: Annelle Tayao-Juego
Bright and pleasant” isn’t exactly a description one would associate with a hospital, but it’s the experience one gets when walking through the halls of the newly opened Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) in Taguig City—where world-class, holistic, and affordable treatments are developed with the well-being of Filipino cancer patients in mind.
Located in the Arca South community just a few minutes from Bicutan exit along the Southern Luzon Expressway, HCCH is part of AC Health’s Healthway Medical Network, and is the Philippines’ first dedicated cancer hospital. It’s founded on the belief that “every cancer patient deserves a human-centric approach to cure,” and therefore offers end-to-end cancer services, from screening to diagnosis, treatment, and post-cancer care—ensuring an integrated and seamless patient experience, in an environment that feels less like a hospital and more of a holistic healing center.
“This is a dream of ours because we’re passionate about bringing world-class cancer care to the Philippines at affordable rates,” says Paolo Borromeo, AC Health president and CEO.
That affordability is ensured by strategic partnerships with leading medical and pharmaceutical industry players, says Borromeo, such as Siemens Healthineers, Varian, Roche, AstraZeneca, and MSD. He cites their rate for a chemotherapy pill called Tagrisso by AstraZeneca, which, at P2,995, is just a third of its typical cost in other hospitals. HCCH’s PET/CT scan, a vital diagnostic procedure for cancer, is only P48,000, which Borromeo says is also cheaper than in other institutions.
Centers of Excellence
HCCH currently has four Centers of Excellence for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer, which provide comprehensive care for various cancer types, covering the entire spectrum from screening to survivorship.
The hospital also has specialized cancer programs for pediatric oncology, gynecologic oncology, and hematologic oncology, among others.
Going beyond conventional pain and nutrition management for their patients, HCCH distinguishes itself as well through its Quality of Life (QOL) program—the first of its kind in the country. This holistic initiative addresses all facets of patient well-being, including psychosocial support that starts at diagnosis and continues into treatment and beyond. Seamlessly integrated with its Centers of Excellence, the QOL initiative ensures that patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their individual needs and, when necessary, can be paired with a dedicated “patient navigator” for a more comforting and supportive experience throughout their treatment and healing.
This program also takes into consideration the design of patients’ rooms and treatment areas. HCCH’s Infusion/Chemotherapy Center has 18 infusion units divided by walls instead of the usual curtains to ensure patients’ comfort and privacy. Even ward areas, called “quads,” are divided into four small separate rooms so each patient can move freely. All rooms have windows as well to ensure that natural light is able to stream in.
Comprehensive care
Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas leads HCCH as its medical director and head of the Colorectal Center of Excellence, and is joined by Dr. Conrado Gabriel Lorenzo III, head of HCCH’s medical advisory board; Dr. Aldine Astrid Basa, head of the Breast Center of Excellence; Dr. Gerardo Cornelio, head of the Lung Center of Excellence; Dr. Gaudencio Vega, head of the Department of Radiation Oncology; and Dr. Daniel Alonzo, head of the Head and Neck Center of Excellence.
The idea, says Jaime Ysmael, Healthway Medical Network president and CEO, is to consolidate comprehensive cancer care services under one roof to not only elevate patient care standards, but also eliminate the need for them to seek treatment overseas or move between different hospitals. This also allows doctors to easily collaborate on cases and work on treating them in a more time-efficient manner.
Healthway Cancer Care Hospital HCCH Taguig City
Borromeo also looks forward to future research partnerships they are building with leading institutions overseas, such as the National Cancer Center in Singapore, and City of Hope in the United States.
“These partnerships will also help to both keep us on top of trends in terms of cancer, and give our doctors access to research and second opinions,” Borromeo says. “Our vision is to lead in cancer care, providing world-class treatment at a lower cost, thus extending the best value to a wider base of Filipinos.”
ADVT.
News Related
-
Anyone who’s purchased gift baskets to hand out to loved ones this holiday season might need to find a backup present after the latest food recall that involves festive cookies. Gift basket company Wine Country Gift Baskets just announced that it is voluntarily recalling all gift baskets that feature Acorn Baking ...
See Details:
Recall Just Announced For Popular Cookies Featured In Holiday Gift Baskets
-
LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ran in an overtime touchdown to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 NFL win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday (Monday in Manila) and move them to 10-1 on the season. The Eagles, who lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City last season, trailed at half-time ...
See Details:
Eagles rally past Bills in overtime as Chiefs win
-
Yen Makabenta First word WHILE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other promoters of the climate emergency are preparing to convene the 28th conference of the parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates, starting on November 30 and stretching to December 12, ...
See Details:
Reality bites the green energy agenda
-
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers The Sandiganbayan has ordered the enforcement of a July 2023 ruling ordering a Marcos Sr. associate to pay a lumber company’s workers P2.1 million in damages as well as return 60 percent of their company’s shares and pay all unpaid benefits. The ...
See Details:
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers
-
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated MANILA, Philippines – More than 18,000 families have fled to evacuation centers across flood-affected regions in the country due to the impact of the shear line and low pressure area. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave ...
See Details:
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated
-
-
MANILA, Philippines: The entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms as the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) and easterlies will be affecting the country over the next 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric ...
See Details:
Rain showers, thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila — Pagasa
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
'Naruto' live-action film adaptation is in the works
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
NASA Highlights Stingray Nebula
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Manila's Lagusnilad underpass opens
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China probes debt-ridden financial giant
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China's VUCA situation
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Unraveling the mystery that is diabetes
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Bangladesh's nuke plant is not going to steal PH investments
OTHER NEWS
ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ...
Read more »
WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ...
Read more »
Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ...
Read more »
Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ...
Read more »
DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ...
Read more »
Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ...
Read more »
PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ...
Read more »