Cebu-based AppleOne Group is significantly expanding its healthcare operations across the Visayas and Mindanao regions, aiming to bring specialized and tertiary medical services closer to regional markets while reducing patient dependence on hospitals in Metro Manila. Through its healthcare division, AppleOne Medical Group, the company is investing substantial resources into upgrading and expanding long-established regional hospitals, applying service standards derived from its hospitality business to enhance hospital operations and patient care.
Strategic Healthcare Diversification
AppleOne Medical Group was established in 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of the group's broader diversification strategy. The company stated that this strategic move was specifically designed to address long-standing gaps in access to advanced diagnostics and specialized medical treatment outside Metro Manila. Ray Go Manigsaca, president and chief executive officer of AppleOne Group, emphasized the company's commitment to regional development, stating, "Our objective has always been to raise the standard of living in the Visayas and Mindanao — now including healthcare." This expansion reflects a growing trend among Philippine businesses to invest in critical infrastructure beyond the capital region.
Regional Hospital Network Upgrades
The expansion involves a comprehensive upgrade of several key hospitals across the regions:
VisayasMed Hospital in Cebu
VisayasMed Hospital, which has been operating since 1952, is being repositioned as a center for advanced diagnostics and comprehensive cancer care. The hospital operates a high-capacity laboratory in partnership with Singapore Diagnostics, offering a wide range of tests that were previously available mainly in Manila. Additionally, it houses the Singapore Cancer Center Inc., an oncology facility that provides precision diagnostics and personalized treatment options for cancer patients.
United Shalom Hospital in Eastern Visayas
In Eastern Visayas, AppleOne operates United Shalom Hospital, a 100-bed facility that serves provincial communities with limited access to critical care services. The hospital is scheduled for expansion with the addition of intensive care units and neonatal intensive care units, directly addressing significant gaps in maternal health and critical care services within the region.
Brokenshire Medical Center in Mindanao
In Mindanao, Brokenshire Medical Center, founded in 1917, is being developed into a tertiary and specialized care hub. The facility includes:
- A comprehensive heart institute
- A dedicated chemotherapy center
- A specialized stroke unit
- A multidisciplinary center for children with special needs
The hospital also offers in vitro fertilization services and advanced surgical technologies, including hybrid endolaparoscopic procedures, making it one of the most advanced medical facilities in the region.
Hub-and-Spoke Healthcare Model
Beyond hospital upgrades, AppleOne Medical Group is implementing a hub-and-spoke healthcare model across its network. This innovative approach involves establishing satellite outpatient and primary care centers within a 50-kilometer radius of its major hospitals. The company explained that this strategy aims to improve healthcare access in underserved communities while simultaneously decongesting major medical facilities, creating a more efficient and accessible healthcare ecosystem.
Ongoing Expansion and Collaboration
As of early 2026, AppleOne Medical Group continues to scale its regional healthcare network, actively working with medical professionals and local stakeholders to strengthen healthcare delivery systems across the Visayas and Mindanao. This expansion represents a significant private sector investment in regional healthcare infrastructure, potentially transforming medical access for millions of Filipinos living outside Metro Manila and setting new standards for healthcare delivery in provincial areas.
