Cover The Medical City (TMC) brings advanced DNA testing closer to Filipino families (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
The Medical City (TMC) brings advanced DNA testing closer to Filipino families (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
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The Medical City
The Medical City brings world-class precision care home with the launch of its advanced DNA testing facility, making deeply personal health insights more accessible than ever
Wellness is everywhere these days, and it continues to influence how many of us care for ourselves. We eat clean, track sleep and commit to exercise routines with discipline. We invest in supplements, detoxes and holistic retreats. Genuine self-care, however, also means understanding what lies beneath the surface. With the launch of a new advanced DNA testing facility in Ortigas, The Medical City (TMC) is helping more Filipinos make informed decisions about their health, based not on guesswork or feeling, but on science.
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Above State-of-the-art machines at the NGS laboratory (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
State-of-the-art machines at the NGS laboratory (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
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“To be fully invested in our future health, we also need medically validated information, physician-led insight and early intervention,” says Dr Stuart Bennett, president and group CEO of TMC. “We are really pushing the conversation from reactive to proactive care.” This vision takes shape with the newly operational, state-of-the-art Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) facility at TMC Ortigas—the fruit of its partnership with Gene Solutions, a pioneering and prominent genetic testing company in Asia.
Local patients and their families no longer have to wait weeks or pay high fees to access crucial genetic insights. Among the tests now available at the new laboratory are the triSure NIPT (Non Invasive Prenatal Test), SPOT-MAS for early multi-cancer detection and oncoGS for personalised cancer treatment planning based on unique genetic makeup.
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Above Unlock a deeper understanding of yourself at TMC (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
Unlock a deeper understanding of yourself at TMC (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
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“We see it as a step forward for the country, but also a reflection of what is possible in Philippine healthcare, one of the best health systems in Asia,” Dr Bennett shares further. “In the past, these kinds of tests meant going abroad or having your samples sent overseas, resulting in delays and additional costs. But today, TMC offers the same advanced testing, right here in Manila, with a lower cost and faster turnaround.” With the laboratory, TMC is not only improving access but also empowering individuals to make more informed decisions and establish a more personal connection to care. And the process is pleasantly and surprisingly simple. “We designed [it] to be as straightforward as possible, eliminating jargon, stress and focusing on the individual patient,” explains Dr Bennett. After an initial consultation to discuss health goals, family history and any specific concerns, the test itself typically requires only a five-minute blood draw. When results arrive, TMC clinicians walk patients through what the findings mean. Free post-test counselling ensures that no one is left navigating this sensitive information alone—a vital part of their “malasakit” mission to treat patients like family and make world-class care accessible to every Filipino.
Above A test typically requires a five-minute blood draw (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
A test typically requires a five-minute blood draw (Photo: courtesy of The Medical City)
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“It is not just a simple transaction, but a model of health partnership between patient and healthcare provider. We take the time to really listen, inform and discuss a plan that is individual,” Dr Bennett adds. “As a TMC patient, you are not just getting a blood test result but an action plan that is co-created based on your individual health and circumstances.” At the end of the day, this is what modern healthcare and wellness should be: science-led, deeply personal and always within reach.
Visit themedicalcity.com to learn more or book a consultation.
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Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
