With a population of 108 million, universal healthcare, and dense population centers, the Philippines is an ideal market for manufacturers looking to grow sales. St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in both Quezon City and Taiguig/Global City are top-tier hospitals with Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation that operate at the quality of international standards. The use of novel technologies for procedures such as 2D and 3D breast ultrasound, laser dermatology procedures, robotic assisted urological surgeries, etc. make SLMC a great target for innovative medical device manufacturers.

International Recognition

The Quezon location was the first hospital in the Philippines and second hospital in Asia to be JCI accredited in 2003. Then in 2014, the Primary Stroke Program also became recognized by JCI. Furthermore, SLMC also became the first in the country to received JCI accreditation for its Academic Medical Center Hospital Program in 2016. The Global location was established in 2010, and only a few years later, also became JCI accredited in 2012 for its Hospital Program and for its Primary Stroke Program in 2014.

Trust, Effective Medicine, and Optimized Service (Temos) accredited both hospitals for Excellence in Medical Tourism and Quality in International Patient Care. Additionally, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awarded the designation of Pathway to Excellence Program to the Quezon location in 2020 and the Global location in 2018. Both are the only Filipino hospitals to get this accreditation. Finally, SLMC is an international affiliate of New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University since 2001.

Combined, the 2 hospitals have a total of 1,146 rooms, and 60,321 average patients admitted in-patient annually. With a third location in Davao City being opened on the horizon, this number will only increase.

Use of Advanced Medical Technologies

SLMC has several departments, with some notable ones such as Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Center, and Center for Organ Transplantation. The Research and Biotechnology division also has conducted 246 clinical trials since its establishment in 1995. Finally, the Human Cancer Biobank specializes in storing and searching biological specimens from consenting cancer patients.

As for procedures, SLMC has conducted Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) on 100 patients for Aortic Stenosis (AS). They also use Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis chemotherapy treatments. In Global City, the Center for Advanced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy procedures include Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) and Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (ESD). SLMC has formed a Brain Attack Team (BAT) that is accredited by JCI for treating strokes.

Some technologies used are the CryoConsole System and Arctic Front Advance Cardiac Cryoballoon Ablation System Center for Organ Transplantation of living donor liver transplants. The center is also accredited by Additional equipment includes the Advanced TrueBeam System, Thulium Laser, Philips Azurion 7 and Volcano CORE Mobile System, Gallium-68 (Ga-68) for PET imaging, CathLab using Philips Allura Xper FD20 System and Philips CX50 Ultrasound, and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) using da Vinci Si Surgical System.

SLMC has a unique focus on research, as they offer a Master of Science Program in Molecular Medicine, which focuses on the following: cancer, stroke, dementia, ischemic heart disease, leukemia, and others.

Growing Your Sales in the Philippines

St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines is a research-oriented, technologically advanced medical center with high standards on par with other international hospitals. Its JCI accreditation among other accolades reinforce this fact. With an additional site opening soon and their early adoption of innovative medical devices, foreign manufacturers looking to grow their sales should definitely pay attention to SLMC. Sales Call Spotlight is a series of blogs providing information on new or upcoming high-tech medical locations that make attractive partners for foreign manufacturers working in wellness, cosmetic surgery, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular, respiratory, dental, diagnosis, rehabilitation, anti-aging, and general hospital items.

Asia Actual is a regulatory consulting company specializing in helping manufacturers grow their sales through independent license holding, direct fulfillment, and a variety of sales channel support services.