Makati Life Medical Center (MLMC), the Philippines’ first tertiary public-private partnership (PPP) hospital, said it won “Integrated Healthcare Provider of the Year” at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2025 in Malaysia over the weekend.
The award, presented by Singapore-based Charlton Media Group’s Healthcare Asia Magazine, recognized MLMC for its integration of a comprehensive primary care system within a hospital and its PPP with the Makati City government.
The Healthcare Asia Awards honor healthcare providers and projects demonstrating innovation, leadership, and commitment to patient care and medical science. Nominations are evaluated by a panel of healthcare and life sciences experts. Previous Healthcare Asia Awards have gone to entities in countries including India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.
MLMC’s care model combines private sector efficiency with public sector accessibility. Since its Primary Care Center opened in May 2023, the hospital said it has provided tens of thousands of patients with consultations, diagnostics (including laboratory and imaging), treatment (such as outpatient surgeries), specialty care, and follow-up services, often in a single visit.
The hospital serves over 800 patients daily, with 70 percent seen through appointment systems, leading to reduced waiting times and improved care coordination.
Under its agreement with the Makati City government, Life Nurture Inc., the private operator of MLMC, invested up to P10 billion to complete, equip and operate the hospital. The city provided the hospital shell and the land.
The partnership aims to ensure equitable care, the hospital said. Patients with Makati’s Yellow Card (a local health benefit card), private payers and those with health insurance or HMO coverage receive the same level of service, access to advanced equipment, and care from experienced physicians and specialists.
“Everyone receives the same dignity in care, no matter how they pay. We don’t draw lines between government-sponsored and private patients,” said Dr. Dennis Sta. Ana, president and chief executive of Makati Life Medical Center.
“This model proves that it’s possible to build a healthcare system that is both inclusive and world-class,” Sta. Ana said.
MLMC is designed as a digital-first smart hospital aiming for HIMSS certification. It features AI-driven ICU monitoring, a 24/7 outpatient department, electronic medical records, and real-time appointment scheduling.
HIMSS, or the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, is a global nonprofit organization focused on improving healthcare through information technology and management systems.
MLMC also introduced a “Human Experience” model to enhance patient care and staff well-being through improved working conditions, rest facilities and professional development.
The hospital is set for full launch this year, including specialized centers for surgery, cancer, heart and critical care. These advancements will offer services such as robotic surgery and linear accelerators for cancer treatment to more Filipinos.
The Healthcare Asia Awards recognized MLMC for its holistic, scalable and inclusive care model, which it said is helping shape the future of healthcare in the Philippines.
“This isn’t just a hospital—it’s a healthcare movement,” Sta. Ana said.
“Makati Life is a model for what Philippine healthcare can become: inclusive, innovative, and deeply human,” he said.