Pangilinan-run Makati Med temporarily takes over Cardinal Santos

MANILA, Philippines - The Cardinal Santos Medical Center will be under the interim care of the Makati Medical Center under tycoon Manuel Pangilinan after its 20-year joint apostolate agreement expired last July 31. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales announced this in a circular posted Wednesday evening on the Manila Archdiocese website. "With the expiration of the joint apostolate agreement on 31 July 2008, I would like to inform you that I have decided to place the care of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center into the courageous individuals of the Makati Medical Center, headed by its Chairman, Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan, whom we have chosen to take the reins as interim operator for a period of six (6) months commencing on 15 August 2008," Rosales said in his circular. Between August 1 and 15, the present management agreed to undertake a transition period with representatives of Makati Medical Center to properly effect a smooth turnover of operations. "(During this interim period), the formal selection process for the long-term operator of CSMC will take place, so that before the end of the interim period the Archdiocese shall have chosen the long-term operator that will manage the hospital for the next 20 years," he added. He said the interim period will last for six months. From 1988 to 2008, CSMC had been under the management of Hospital Managers, Inc. (HMI) of the Murillo family, headed by the late Hilario Murillo Sr. Rosales said that through the years, CSMC under HMI developed into a truly world-class facility and a "place of comfort, refuge and healing, especially to our bishops and priests." He said that during the interim period, the existing structures and operations of the hospital shall be preserved, as much as possible. This includes the continued employment of all existing medical staff, nurses, and support personnel, without diminishment of salaries or benefits, as required by law as contractual employees. Also, free medical services, assistance and treatment to bishops, priests, religious and lay personnel duly accredited by RCAM shall continue as previously enjoyed under HMI. The Maryknoll sisters founded the hospital as the St. Paul's Hospital of Manila. When heavy American artillery damaged it during the liberation of the capital during World War II, the US awarded recompense to the nuns. A portion of the fund was used to purchase a 3.7-hectare property in what would become the Greenhills West Subdivision of the Ortigas Company Limited. But the plans were beset by rising costs and post war inflation, prompting then Manila archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos to grant assistance to the Sisters. The hospital opened August 1974. Following tremendous public response, Cardinal Santos became one of the country's top major medical centers in five years. In 1986, fires and labor unrest threatened the hospital's operations, prompting the archdiocese to enter unto a joint Apostolate with the HMI in 1988. - GMANews.TV