Rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and an ageing population in the Philippines is set to drive a 60% increase in outpatient visits and inpatient bed-days by 2040.¹

NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological, gastrointestinal, and orthopaedic conditions now account for two thirds of all causes of death and are estimated to cost the country $12.8 billion per year, equivalent to almost 5% of GDP.^2,3

Despite rising healthcare demand, nearly half of Filipinos cannot access a primary healthcare facility within 30 minutes.⁴The country has 3,900 primary care facilities, including 2,593 Rural Health Units or Health Centres and hospital bed supply remains limited. As of 2024, the national bed-to-population ratio was 0.93 beds per 1,000 people, compared to Indonesia (1.4), Malaysia (1.8), Thailand (2.7), Singapore (2.8), and Vietnam (3.4).⁵ In provinces such as Pangasinan, the ratio is even lower at 0.49 beds per 1,000 people.⁶

The majority of healthcare facilities are located in and around Metro Manila, meaning many patients from other provinces must travel to the capital to access specialised care. This disparity results in significant differences in healthcare outcomes. Among some rural communities, the infant mortality rate is 31 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 9 per 1,000 among the wealthiest.⁷

Across the broader economy, rising household incomes allow for an increased ability and propensity to pay for healthcare. This combination of growing demand, rising income, and constrained healthcare infrastructure has created a significant supply gap with massive potential for impact.

Global Care Medical Center (GCMC) is one of the Philippines’ only scaled hospital and clinic networks operating exclusively outside Metro Manila.

The group manages four general hospitals – three in Laguna Province and one in Batangas – as well as a cancer centre in Laguna and is building an additional hospital in Pangasinan. GCMC is expanding its outpatient footprint with community-based clinics designed to provide increased access to patients and also provide a clear referral pathway into its hospital network. This integrated model allows GCMC to deliver long-term, multi-episodic care across a range of specialisations while maintaining proximity to patients’ homes.

GCMC currently receives approximately 340,000 patient visits annually, more than half are patients classified as emerging consumers, earning less than $11.20 a day. The location of hospitals and clinics in high-need areas helps reduce the cost and complexity of accessing care for these communities – minimising the need for long-distance travel and helping families manage chronic and repeat health conditions more efficiently.

GCMC is addressing critical healthcare infrastructure gaps in fast-growing regions with approximately 300 hospital beds currently in operation and plans to more than double the number of beds within the next three to five years.

In a market where attracting and retaining quality staff is a challenge, GCMC has built strong relationships with its medical workforce and continues to explore ways to enhance incentives and work-life balance.⁸ This ensures quality care to patients is sustained across hospital sites.