Global Care Medical Center secures LeapFrog, Navegar backing to expand regional healthcare access

As demand for healthcare surges beyond the capital, a regional hospital group is positioning itself to bridge long-standing gaps in access across the Philippines. Global Care Medical Center is raising growth capital from impact investor LeapFrog Investments and Manila-based private equity firm Navegar to expand its footprint in underserved provinces.

Founded in 2016, Global Care Medical Center, or GCMC, has built a network of five hospitals outside Metro Manila, including four general hospitals and one dedicated cancer center. The group operates more than 300 licensed beds supported by over 760 doctors, focusing on secondary and tertiary care in fast-growing cities where capacity remains constrained.

The Philippines’ healthcare sector continues to post sustained demand growth, driven by rising incomes, an aging population, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Yet access remains uneven. Nearly half of Filipinos cannot reach a primary healthcare facility within 30 minutes, and in some provinces the bed-to-patient ratio falls below 0.5. For many families, that means traveling long distances for treatment or delaying care altogether.

GCMC has sought to ease those pressures by locating hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, bringing services closer to communities that have historically relied on facilities in Metro Manila. Its model combines modern infrastructure, updated diagnostic equipment, and a roster of specialists intended to deliver urban-quality care in regional settings, while also operating complementary services such as retail pharmacy and medical equipment distribution.

Dr. Biju Mohan of LeapFrog Investments, Engr. Ricardo Celino of GCMC, and Juan Carlos Camara of Navegar kick off the launch of the GCMC Investment Partnership.

GCMC chairman Ricardo Celino said the new partnership will accelerate that strategy. “We chose to partner with LeapFrog for their deep healthcare expertise, and Navegar for their experience helping Philippine companies scale. With their support, we’re excited to expand healthcare access to more Filipino communities and to continue raising the standard of care in the regions that need it most.”

A sixth hospital is under construction and is expected to add about 150 licensed beds to the group’s capacity. The company is also pursuing a mix of organic and inorganic initiatives, including expanding specialty services and exploring targeted acquisitions in priority provinces, to widen its reach and deepen clinical capabilities.

For LeapFrog, the transaction marks its first investment in the Philippines. Biju Mohandas, partner and global head of healthcare investments, said the firm sees both demographic momentum and structural need.

“This is our first investment in the Philippines and an opportunity for our team to back the tremendous growth of the economy. As healthcare demand rises, GCMC is delivering high-quality, accessible healthcare to those who need it most. We see tremendous opportunity to build on the good work of the GCMC team, expanding specialty care, scaling responsibly, and enhancing patient outcomes. Together with Navegar, we are proud to support a business that pairs clinical excellence with a strong commitment to equitable impact, and we will play an active role in supporting GCMC’s next phase of growth,” Mohandas explained.

Dr. Biju Mohan of LeapFrog Investments, Engr. Ricardo Celino of GCMC, and Juan Carlos Camara of Navegar talk about the expected expansion in access to quality healthcare following the investment partnership.

Navegar, which manages more than $300 million in assets and has invested across healthcare, consumer, and logistics sectors, said GCMC’s disciplined approach to expansion distinguished it in a competitive market.

Juan Carlos Camara, Navegar’s vice president of origination, said, “We’ve been following healthcare in the Philippines for some time, and GCMC stood out for both its management team and the thoughtful way the platform was built. Growth has been intentional, anchored in clinical standards and a consistent focus on quality rather than scale for its own sake. This approach gives us confidence in the long-term potential of the business. We’re excited to support Rick and the GCMC team, alongside LeapFrog, as the company moves into its next chapter.”

Camara added that early milestones are already taking shape as the partnership begins to focus on expanding capacity and reach. “How many more beds can we turn on in our current facilities? How many more patients can we serve? How many more new regions can we open up over the coming years? These are the sort of things that, you know, we’re excited for, we look forward to, and we will use to track the success of our investments and our success in this partnership.”

Beyond increasing bed capacity, the investors said differentiation will hinge on strengthening clinical depth. Mohandas pointed to specialty expansion as a priority, citing cancer care as one example of advanced services outside the capital and noting the broader need for capabilities in nephrology, cardiology, and other chronic disease disciplines.

The investment remains subject to customary closing conditions, but the partners say the objective is clear: scale responsibly while preserving clinical standards. In a system where geography often dictates access, GCMC’s expansion signals a broader shift toward bringing comprehensive, high-quality healthcare closer to where Filipinos live and work.