Phinma Group Allots PHP395-M for Improvement of Its Cebu Hospital

The Phinma Group has allocated PHP395 million for the improvement of the Sacred Heart Hospital (SHH) in Cebu City, an official said Tuesday.

The SHH is part of the Southwestern University (SWU) which Phinma bought in 2015 for PHP1.9 billion and is now called SWU-Phinma.

SWU-Phinma president Chito Salazar said Phinma Group has earmarked some PHP185 million for phase one of the renovation, which will take about a year.

It has also allotted some PHP90 million for new medical equipment for this year and 2018, and another PHP120 million for the second phase of the renovation.

Under a masterplan, the hospital will be connected to the entire campus through bridge-ways.

Salazar said the renovation of the entire hospital is expected to be completed in three to five years’ time, starting this year.

Salazar said Phinma considered selling the hospital nine months ago, but decided to forgo the plan, knowing how critical the role of the hospital can be in helping the university produce high quality healthcare professionals.

“We are happy we have decided not to sell the hospital,” he said.

“Sacred Heart Hospital can become a teaching institution that would help us develop the best possible medical professionals that would make the lives of Filipinos better,” he said.

Salazar said Phinma ended up spending more for the improvement of the hospital than the entire SWU-Phinma campus.

He said the hospital, which is operating at 126 beds, has applied for a 192-bed capacity.

The hospital has about 20 resident doctors and 160 medical clerks. (PNA)FPV/EB/EDS