AC Health expands network with Healthway acquisition

The acquisition allows it to expand its clinic count and patient base as well as widen its market in terms of patient type via multiple clinic formats.

Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health) on Friday said it has acquired 100 percent of Healthway Philippines Inc. from Healthway Asia Ltd. The acquisition adds seven mall-based multi-specialty clinics and 40 corporate clinics to its own footprint.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the health unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. said the deal was inked on 6 December, Friday, between AC Health and Hong Kong’s HKR International, Ltd., a diversified firm with investments in real estate, hospitality and healthcare across Asia.

“We are very pleased to welcome Healthway to AC Health and the Ayala group. The Healthway name has become synonymous with quality healthcare and has been well-regarded among patients and medical professionals. We intend to build on this further, as we integrate Healthway with our AC Health portfolio,” AC Health chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala was quoted as saying.

AC Health’s existing clinic portfolio includes 70 FamilyDOC community-based primary care clinics, and 10 corporate clinics. The acquisition allows it to expand its clinic count and patient base as well as widen its market in terms of patient type via multiple clinic formats.

“We see many opportunities for synergy, including patient referrals, sharing of medical professionals, and integration of diagnostics and pharmacy services,” Paolo Borromeo, AC Health president and chief executive officer said.

In its two-decade run, Healthway has served over two million patients and has a network of about 800 doctors with different specialties. Its clinics offer comprehensive range of out-patient services including specialty consults, imaging, laboratory, specialized diagnostics, ambulatory surgical services, dental services and physical therapy.

Meanwhile, the buy-out comes after AC Health obtained a minority stake in pharmaceutical import IE Medica and its affiliate distribution firm, MedEthix.

AC Health said it is also finalizing a joint venture with an international cancer center operator for its specialty cancer hospital, slated to open in 2022.

“This is an exciting time for us at AC Health. Taken together, all of these investments bring us closer to realizing our vision of an integrated healthcare ecosystem,” Borromeo said.

“We are still looking to grow our portfolio further, particularly in retail pharma, financing, and hospitals. Ultimately, our goal is to touch the lives of 1 in 5 Filipinos by 2030.”