Asian Hospital’s cancer treatment facility gets perks
The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the registration of the P334-million robotic treatment facility of the CyberKnife Radiotherapy Service of Asian Hospital Inc. (AHI) in Muntinlupa City.
The registration thus entitles the cancer treatment facility to incentives such as an income tax holiday and duty-free entry of capital equipment.
In a statement on Monday, the BOI said the CyberKnife system was a noninvasive treatment platform designed to address both cancerous and noncancerous tumors in complex or sensitive areas like the brain, spine, lungs, liver and prostate.
The CyberKnife facility is slated to begin commercial operations this month.
The CyberKnife unit will operate as a standalone facility within Asian Hospital’s Asian Cancer Institute, equipped with its own entrance, consultation and computerized tomography CT rooms, and a radiation-safe bunker.
It forms part of Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Health Corp., which manages 27 hospitals and six cancer care centers nationwide.
“This is more than an investment,” BOI Managing Head and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said.
“It’s a clear signal that the Philippines is ready to embrace next-generation healthcare technologies and serve more people with compassion and precision,” added Rodolfo.
Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the facility uses real-time robotic targeting and artificial intelligence motion tracking to deliver radiation from multiple angles with extreme precision.
“We are proud to support forward-looking investments like CyberKnife that harness state-of-the-art technology to address the country’s pressing public health needs,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said.
The robotic radiosurgery platform provides submillimeter radiation accuracy, significantly reducing exposure to healthy tissues and minimizing treatment to only one to five sessions from the usual 28 to 39 sessions.
The BOI said AHI was ensuring accessibility across socioeconomic classes, although it is located in a premium facility.
The hospital is partnering with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center to serve pediatric cancer patients through the PhilHealth No Balance Billing Program.
Under this initiative, eligible PhilHealth members will not pay additional fees or expenses beyond the PhilHealth package rate when confined in government hospitals.
Additional support from health maintenance organizations, the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients program, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s medical aid ensures that even low-income patients can benefit from this world-class technology.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country, with 33,910 deaths recorded between January and August last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
