The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the registration of a new, AI-driven cancer treatment technology, marking the first time the country will have access to the advanced care.
The P334-million project, led by Asian Hospital Inc. (AHI), introduces the CyberKnife Radiotherapy Service. The system, which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, is a robotic radiosurgery platform that uses real-time targeting and AI motion tracking to deliver highly precise radiation. This can reduce the number of treatment sessions from a typical 28 to 39 to just one to five.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary and BOI chairman Cristina Roque said the project aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal of enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
“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,” Roque said.
“This innovation aligns with our commitment to uplift the quality of life for Filipinos and build a Bagong Pilipinas—where healthcare is inclusive, advanced, and accessible to all,” she said.
The CyberKnife system is a non-invasive treatment platform that can treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in sensitive areas such as the brain, spine, lungs, liver and prostate.
While located in a private facility, AHI said it would ensure accessibility to a wider range of patients by partnering with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center to serve pediatric cancer patients through the PhilHealth No Balance Billing (NBB) program.
Additional support will be provided through health maintenance organizations, the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) program, and Department of Social Welfare and Development medical aid.
The new unit will operate as a standalone facility within the Asian Cancer Institute, which is part of Metro Pacific Health Corporation’s network of 27 hospitals and six cancer centers nationwide.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, cancer was the second leading cause of death in the country from January to August 2024, with 33,910 deaths. Muntinlupa City, where the new center is located, previously had no dedicated cancer treatment facility.
Commercial operations for the CyberKnife system are expected to begin in August 2025.
