In the 1960s, a group of young and hopeful doctors returned to the Philippines after completing their specialty training in the United States. They ventured to Davao, a quaint city surrounded by lush forest and the prospect of progress in the land of promise which, at that time, was starting to become a bustling community teeming with opportunities.
Dr. Honorio Hilario, a doctor of Industrial Medicine and owner of Botica Villa, invited Dr. Luisito Guanlao, a Neurosurgeon, to establish a clinic in his pharmacy in 1961, which then urged more doctors to set up their clinics in the premises. Seeing how Botica Villa had evolved into a melting pot of medical practitioners with varying specialties in four years, Dr. Guanlao started to envision something bigger: a hospital offering quality, specialized care to more Davaoeños.
In July 1, 1966, Clinica Hilario, Inc. became a corporation with doctors Honorio Hilario, Sr., Luisito Guanlao, Agusto Abela, Juan Belisario, Jr., Rodrigo Casino, Valeriana Castillo Honorio
dela Cruz, Jose Gantioqui, Jr., Benigno Magpantay, Gerino Pangan, Pacita San Vicente, Crisostomo Serrano, Sr., Leo Sicat, Herminio Villano, Sr., and Amador Villanueva serving as the incorporators. Davao Doctors Hospital soon opened its doors to the public in 1969, starting with a 50-bed capacity. Over the years, the corporation experienced significant growth, increasing its capital and expanding its shareholder base.
More progress took place in the hospital in 1970: the number of beds increased to 150, an Intensive Care Unit was established, and an Annex was constructed to house doctor’s clinics. However, along with the advancements came the increasing demand for nurses and manpower, hence, DDH founded the Davao Doctors Hospital School of Nursing which began with 52 students. This branch eventually grew into the Davao Doctors College (DDC), which now offers 11 baccalaureate degrees and serves over 3,000 students.
Due to the economic crisis in the early 1980s, expansion plans of the hospital were halted. Instead, the management focused on improving and implementing policies centering on patient care. When circumstances began to improve, developments for the hospital were executed more urgently and quickly: in addition to more doctor’s clinics, a Pediatric Ward, Rehab Section, Resident’s Quarters, and Pulmonary and Bronchoscopy units were added to DDH’s roster of services and amenities. This growth continued to dominate the 1990s and coaxed the creation of the hospital’s Mission and Vision statements in order to define and reaffirm its objectives.
DDH made history in 2000 when it was awarded the ISO 9001 Certification and became the region’s first and the country’s second ISO-accredited hospital – a recognition of the hospital’s excellence by international standards. Over time, DDH continued to foster many other firsts in the region as its Radiation Oncology Department became fully operational, among other notable innovations.
Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), one of the Philippines’ leading investment and management firms, acquired a 34% shareholding in DDH in May 2008. With the vision to rehabilitate, maintain, strengthen, and improve vital services that contribute toward nation-building, MPIC
commits to making excellent healthcare available to all Filipinos by investing in hospitals through its healthcare focused investment arm, Metro Pacific Health Corporation (MPH). Enjoined in one goal, the alliance accelerated the transformation of the hospital as they established a new board
of directors initially chaired by Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan. The collaborative partnership between MPH and the hospital spurred more renovations, improvements, and equipment upgrades, all aimed at providing the best possible care for patients.
The continuous progress that took place after the entry of Metro Pacific led to the Gold Accreditation of the hospital in 2017 by the Accreditation Canada International (ACI), a globally renowned healthcare accreditation body that puts emphasis on the importance of people-centered care in hospitals. After 5 years, in May 2022, ACI awarded DDH a higher-level Platinum Accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to providing exemplary service in all aspects of care.
Today, Davao Doctors Hospital is Mindanao’s largest and most modern private hospital, offering cutting-edge diagnostic, therapeutic, and intensive care services. We lead the region in all medical specialties, making us the preferred healthcare provider for both patients and physicians. We continue to spearhead innovations in the region for multiple niche and specialties: Cardiology, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Nephrology, Digestive and Liver Diseases, Oncology, and Radiation Oncology.
We are home to eleven medical specialties, each with an approved Medical Residency Training Program, namely: (1) Anesthesiology, (2) Internal Medicine, (3) Obstetrics and Gynecology, (4) Ophthalmology, (5) Pediatrics, (6) Radiology, (7) Surgery, (8) ENT, (9) Nuclear Medicine, (10) Orthopedics and (11) Radiation Oncology. These departments are manned by more than 400 consultants, accredited by various U.S. and Philippine Specialty and Sub-specialty boards. With PhilHealth-accreditation as a Level 3 Tertiary Facility, DDH continues to move towards higher standards of patient care in Mindanao and the Southeast Asian Region, by providing excellent service, the most comprehensive facilities, the latest technology and world-class expertise.
We offer outpatient services at our centers within our hospital and at our Lab-N-Go drive-thru facility that allows patients to have their tests done at the comfort of their own vehicles. We have also extended our reach to more locations: in addition to our Dumoy Satellite providing outpatient services for more than 10 years in the south of the city, DDH is building a more robust network of outpatient care centers called Davao Doctors Care Center that aims to bring the DDH brand of care closer to our patients’ places of work, residence, and entertainment, ensuring the delivery of convenient, quality care. Davao Doctors Care Center opened its locations at SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier in September 2022.
As part of our commitment to providing patient-centered care, this year, we will be renovating our entire main hospital ground floor to create the most holistic and convenient outpatient experience, where doctors can cure patients 24/7. We will also redesign and relocate our Emergency Department to better cater to urgent cases. These improvements aim to bring greater convenience and peace of mind to the people of Davao City and beyond.
The Unparalleled Health Institution Beyond Borders.
To ensure excellent clinical outcomes.
To nurture a culture of learning and develop highly effective healthcare professionals.
To provide clients with delightful experiences.To collaborate seamlessly with stakeholders.
To adhere to the highest standards of Safety, Quality, and Excellence in service.
At the core, we desire to uplift life itself. We pride ourselves in providing care that enables our customers to live life to the fullest through a lifelong partnership with our organization. Because, here, at Davao Doctors Hospital, We Care for Life!
