Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines officially breaks ground on the future Tzu Chi Medical Center

[STA. MESA, Manila], May 8, 2025 —Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines broke ground on the Tzu Chi Medical Center, the first Tzu Chi hospital in the Philippines — a landmark milestone in the Foundation’s 32-year journey of compassionate service in the country.

Built on the belief that “illness is the beginning of poverty, and poverty is the root of illness,” the Medical Center will offer exceptional, affordable, and patient-centered healthcare — bridging critical gaps in accessibility, affordability, and quality for the Filipinos.

The need has never been more urgent. A 2025 global healthcare resilience report ranked the Philippines 87th out of 110 countries, citing systemic challenges including high out-of-pocket costs and unequal access to essential health services. Public hospitals remain overburdened, leaving millions of underserved Filipinos without adequate care. The Tzu Chi Medical Center directly answers this call — a private, non-profit institution rooted in the principles of Saving Lives, Protecting Health, and Upholding the Mission of Love.

Three decades of outreach

Tzu Chi Philippines’ medical mission began in 1995 with its first free clinic in Baguio City. By 2008, the Foundation also opened the Tzu Chi Great Love Eye Center in Zamboanga City in 2008, restoring the eyesight of thousands of indigent Filipinos at no cost. Over the years, they steadily expanded its medical outreach, notably providing prosthetics to amputees through the Jaipur Foot Program.

Over three decades, nearly 300 medical missions have reached remote communities from Sultan Kudarat to Zamboanga Sibugay, providing free services in general medicine, surgery, dentistry, eye care, and children’s health. Additionally, the foundation established a free clinic in Manila, offering specialized services such as acupuncture and physical therapy. Moving beyond mobile clinics and specialized programs, the new Medical Center scales the foundation’s humanitarian efforts into a permanent, full-service institution dedicated to long-term community wellness. 

New era of care

True to Tzu Chi’s humanistic medicine philosophy, the Medical Center will treat the whole person — clinical, emotional, social, and spiritual. The facility will feature healing environments designed for patient and family well-being, plant-based nutrition, palliative and spiritual care, and a robust volunteer network through the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA). Sustainable design principles — including recycling systems, water conservation, and energy-efficient architecture — will reflect Tzu Chi’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Built on a foundation of compassion in action, the Tzu Chi Medical Center is a call to action for supporters to unite in establishing a permanent refuge where medical excellence meets humanitarian care.

“When the unfortunate cannot find help, those who are blessed must go to them.”

— Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Founder, Tzu Chi Foundation

ABOUT TZU CHI FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES

Established in the Philippines in 1994, Tzu Chi Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian organization founded by Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Taiwan in 1966. Its work spans disaster relief, charity aid, medical missions, education scholarships, and environmental conservation — guided by the Buddhist values of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. For over 30 years, Tzu Chi Philippines has served the poorest communities through the tireless dedication of its volunteers.

Media Contact:
JUDY LAO
Head of Communications
[email protected]
+63 9178128812

For Partnership Inquiries:
CLIFFORD CO
Partnership Officer
[email protected]