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Richmond Mercurio - The Philippine Star
February 12, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp. (mWell) is poised to become a powerhouse in the country’s digital health care ecosystem as it acquires the Ayala Group’s KonsultaMD.
mWell, the digital health care arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., yesterday said that it has entered into agreements with the Ayala Group to acquire the Ayala-led telehealth provider.
No other details of the deal were disclosed by the company, but a representative said that it is a 100 percent acquisition.
mWell said the strategic acquisition would strengthen its position as the largest and leading digital healthcare ecosystem in the Philippines by significantly expanding its reach and capabilities.
“Progress for any country depends on a healthy citizenry. This agreement represents a giant step forward toward real, immediate and reliable care for our countrymen,” mWell chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.
KonsultaMD, the flagship health care platform of Globe’s 917Ventures, evolved from a health hotline in 2015 into a superapp that provides comprehensive health services including 24/7 doctor consultations, diagnostics, medicine delivery and homecare.
It currently has 2.7 million users and a vast network of partner doctors with deep expertise in mobile-based health care solutions.
mWell said the acquisition is highly complementary to its existing business offerings.
mWell president Chaye Cabal- Revilla said the signing of the agreement with KonsultaMD is a decisive step to address the challenges in elevating health care in the country.
“This purposeful action underscores our commitment to support universal health care in making lasting impacts, particularly in underserved communities throughout the Philippines. By integrating our resources with KonsultaMD, we are well-positioned to provide expansive and high-quality health care to all Filipinos, both locally and globally,” she said.
The integration is also set to accelerate the growth and expansion of MPIC’s health business, including Metro Pacific Health.
mWell said that KonsultaMD would continue to keep its brand and operate under MPIC/mWell management in the interim, ensuring continued access to key services while enhancing health care delivery.
KonsultaMD CEO Beia Latay said that combining the group’s expertise with mWell’s powerful digital health ecosystem is set to bring even greater innovations to telehealth.
“KonsultaMD will continue to be the trusted platform our users know and love – now with even more ways to deliver quality, accessible, and seamless health care,” Latay said.
As the only health and wellness app with an established digital health ecosystem, mWell brings together consultations and wellness resources both for physical and mind health for its 3.1 million users.
Its global reach includes more than 90,000 users from across Asia, South America, Africa, North America, Oceania and Europe.
“This acquisition supports our common vision of delivering accessible and inclusive health care solutions to every Filipino,” Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said.
“Bringing together the power of mWell’s digital ecosystem and KonsultaMD’s comprehensive services and expansive reach will ultimately benefit Filipino consumers. This synergy will help us more swiftly achieve our shared goal of providing healthcare for all,” Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said separately.
