Brief History

Early in 1980’s, the Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative Philippines (MMGHHSCP) was simply a vision. It was a time when Nationalism was THE issue and the young doctors from the state-owned Davao Medical Center (DMC). Mindanao only medical training center, were not exempt from participating in the struggle to help improve the condition in the country, especially pertaining to the less fortunate members of society. Healthcare was one area that needed Healing People came in droves to the DMC to seek medical attention as there was a dire lack of adequate health care (both preventive and curative in their communities) and most of them could not afford the services of a private hospital.

1982 The first Medical Mission Group hospital opened in Davao City. It was housed in a small rented commercial space along J.P Laurel Avenue, beside hardware stores and in front of the Davao Mental hospital. it was a four bed “hospital” with spartan amenities but with an operating room, an X-ray and a consultation room and was manned by volunteer resident and consultants mostly from DMC’s Department of Surgery.

MMGHHSCP transferred the hospital to an old house at Barrio Obrero which the Carriedo family rented out to us for a song. It was now an accredited, special surgical hospital with 12 beds. Many of our patients were surgical cases. We were joined by specialist from other departments in Davao Medical Center (DMC).

The first Medical Mission Group outside Davao City. The Medical Mission Hospital in Tagum was a 25 beds secondary hospital to serve the working class in that area. The hospital was also manned by our graduates from Davao Medical Center.

The creation of Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative. In May 1990, the MMG Board of Directors approved a move to cooperative the two hospital. and so was born the of Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative (MMGHHSC). After a series of consultations, seminars, planning, haggling and lots of prayers, the first of Medical Mission Group Cooperative Hospital, a tertiary care 80 beds hospital was inaugurated on November 16, 1991 in Davao City.

The MMGSHHC concept, principles, and practices were featured in the Philippines Daily Inquirer, the country’s most widely circulated Sunday Magazine. As a result, doctors and health workers in the Philippines were inspired to establish their own health cooperative in various parts of the country. The first Medical Mission Group Cooperative General Assembly was held in Davao City on March 23, 1993, with members from all over the country attending, both new and old, New ideas were proposed, new commitments were made, new investment were accepted, and new areas of membership were targeted.