The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked private hospital entrepreneurs and administrators to tap the capital market to support expansion and improve healthcare access across the Philippines.
The commission recently met with hospital owners and medical professionals to promote a program designed to provide easier access to the capital market by streamlining the registration process for securities. The funds are intended to finance the construction and expansion of healthcare facilities.
Under the Securing and Expanding Capital for Hospital Entrepreneurs (SEC HOPES) program, the review period for the registration of hospital securities has been reduced to 28 days from the standard 45 days. The acceleration is made possible through the use of a simplified registration statement.
Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Francis Lim said the financing needs of the healthcare sector continue to grow as providers seek to expand capacity, upgrade facilities, adopt new technologies and improve service delivery.
“While the public sector continues to lead major investments in infrastructure and service delivery, the private sector plays an equally important role—especially in areas of healthcare where there is a strong business case for expansion,” Lim said.
Public and private investments should complement each other to ensure that Filipinos across the country gain access to safe, modern and adequate health facilities, Lim said.
As of December 2025, the commission has registered 18 private hospitals under the program, with total registered shares amounting to P19.95 billion.
The commission said improved access to capital is expected to help address the country’s shortage of medical facilities.
The hospital bed-to-population ratio stands at 0.5 beds per 1,000 people. This is lower than the 2.7 beds per 1,000 population needed to meet rising demands, according to the Department of Health’s Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020–2040.
Lim said capital markets should remain open and accessible to all sectors, including healthcare. By providing hospitals with the ability to raise funds efficiently and transparently, the commission empowers them to modernize facilities, scale operations and bring quality care closer to communities that need it most, he said.
