At MakatiMed WellnessHub, executive checkups are made more convenient with hospital-level care, guided assistance, and wellness services in one outpatient space
I used to think annual checkups were just one of those things you did because your company required them.
You show up, skip breakfast because you were told to fast, get your blood drawn, answer a few questions, wait for the results, then go back to your usual routine. Then I turned 30.
That was when monitoring my health started to feel like something I had to do for myself. I got my own health plan. I started paying closer attention to my family’s health history. I also thought more about my own body, especially after going through COVID and seeing how quickly health can change.
I am not someone who wants to put too much pressure on health. I do not believe in turning wellness into another reason to feel guilty. But as someone who is always on the go, handles too many projects, and spent a good part of my 20s staying out late, working long hours, and moving from one deadline to another, I knew I had to be more careful.
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Why people delay checkups even when they know they matter
An executive health checkup is a more complete health check. It usually includes blood tests, scans, physical exams, and other screenings that help doctors see how your body is doing.
Doctors use these checkups to understand your current health, track any changes, and catch possible concerns early.
The problem is that many people only go for checkups when something already feels wrong. It’s easy to understand why. Checkups can feel like a lot. You have to make time. You may need to fast. There is blood extraction. Some tests can feel awkward. Then there is the waiting, which can someone overthink.
According to the Department of Health, noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases remain among the leading causes of death in the Philippines. Many of these health risks can be managed better when they are caught early, which is why regular checkups matter even when you feel fine.
But the point of a checkup is not to scare you. It is to give you information early enough to do something about it.
A hospital-level checkup without the usual hospital feel
Makati Medical Center is making the process more comfortable through the MakatiMed WellnessHub, a full-service outpatient facility located on the seventh floor of Ayala North Exchange Tower 1, just a short walk from the hospital.
The WellnessHub offers customized executive health checkups in a calmer space that feels closer to a spa or boutique hotel than a usual hospital setting. Each patient is also assisted by an Executive Liaison Officer, who helps guide them through the process.
“We’re a one-stop shop at a higher level,” says Arlyn Songco, Senior Vice President and Division Head of MakatiMed’s Creative, Communication, and Sales Department. “For people who don’t like going to hospitals because they’re not sick, this addresses their need to get a wellness check.”
The WellnessHub also has its own laboratory for blood and specimen collection. It also has equipment that can check the heart, bones, abdomen, thyroid, liver, kidneys, muscles and joints, breast health, and women’s reproductive health.
The tests help you understand your body better
According to Dr. Ryan Raymond Bautista, Head of MakatiMed WellnessHub, the facility gives patients access to advanced equipment for different health checks.
For breast care, the hub has machines used for mammograms, which are breast X-rays that help doctors look for early signs of breast cancer. It also has a breast ultrasound machine, which uses sound waves instead of radiation to create images of the breast.
The WellnessHub also has ultrasound equipment for checking areas such as the abdomen, kidneys, thyroid, joints, and blood flow in the arms or legs. In simpler terms, these scans help doctors see what is happening inside the body without surgery.
For liver health, the hub has a machine called FibroScan. It helps check the condition of the liver in a non-invasive way. The hub also has a body and bone scanner that checks bone strength and gives more information about body fat and muscle.
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Women’s health should not be pushed to the side
One helpful part of a more complete checkup is that it can remind women to pay attention to screenings we often postpone.
Breast care is part of MakatiMed WellnessHub’s services, with mammogram and ultrasound options available. This matters because breast checks are not only for people who already feel a lump. They can help find changes before symptoms show up.
For women in their 40s and beyond, mammograms are worth discussing with a doctor. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every two years for women aged 40 to 74. In the Philippines, PhilHealth’s 2025 breast cancer screening standards include average-risk women aged 50 to 69 as part of the target group for breast cancer screening, with doctors helping assess each patient’s risk.
This means there is no single schedule that works for everyone. Your age, family history, previous findings, and personal risk all matter.
Women should also keep cervical cancer screening on the list. A Pap test or HPV test can help find early changes in the cervix before they become more serious.
Reproductive health also deserves attention beyond pregnancy. Irregular periods, heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, pain during sex, unusual discharge, breast changes, fertility concerns, and changes during perimenopause are all valid reasons to see a doctor.
Mental health is part of the WellnessHub’s services, too.
The WellnessHub also offers mental health support, including private assessments, counseling, and therapy. If a patient needs more specialized care, the hub can also help with referrals.
Health is not only about bloodwork, scans, and physical exams. Stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, poor sleep, and emotional strain can affect the body too.
But how often should you get an executive checkup?
For many adults, once a year is a good starting point. It helps your doctor check your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight changes, family history, lifestyle risks, and the screenings you may need for your age.
But the schedule can change depending on your health. Some people may need checkups more often, especially if they have previous abnormal results, long-term health conditions, strong family history of certain illnesses, heart risks, liver concerns, reproductive health concerns, or medicines that need regular monitoring.
If you are in your 20s or 30s and feel healthy, a checkup can still help establish a baseline. That means you and your doctor get a clearer idea of what is normal for your body. If you are in your 40s and beyond, regular screening becomes even more important because some health risks increase with age.
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For longer tests, there is an inpatient option
Some tests need more time. For procedures or monitoring that require an extended stay, patients can check in at one of 13 rooms at MakatiMed WellnessHub Premier, the inpatient facility located on the seventh floor of MakatiMed’s Tower 2.
“For tests that require an extended stay, such as monitoring for sleep, heart, or brain activity, patients can check in at one of 13 rooms at the MakatiMed WellnessHub Premier, our inpatient facility at the main hospital,” explains Chin Mocas, Department Manager for Operations.
“Admission is recommended for more intensive tests like proctosigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, invasive diagnostics, and CPET.” To put that simply, some tests need closer monitoring or more time, such as sleep studies, heart tests, colon-related procedures, and exercise-related heart and lung tests.
Depending on the tests included in the executive health checkup, Mocas says patients can be done in a matter of hours. Results may be released within 24 to 48 hours, while a final consolidated report is furnished within three to five working days after discharge. Results are then discussed by the hub’s in-house doctors.
A checkup that’s also comfortable
MakatiMed WellnessHub does not remove the serious part of an executive checkup. It simply makes the experience feel more guided, private, and comfortable.
“There is some sort of exclusivity to it,” says Dr. Saturnino Javier, MakatiMed Medical Director and Interim Co-President and CEO, of having a MakatiMed-managed executive checkup outside hospital premises. “It’s like choosing a car. All cars can bring you to the same destination, but it is all about comfort and convenience.”
That may be the easiest way to understand it. A checkup is still a checkup. But if a calmer space, guided process, and one-stop setup make you more likely to book one, then that convenience matters.
For those wondering about the cost, the basic outpatient executive checkup starts at around P4,000, while more comprehensive packages may average around P20,000, depending on the tests included. Patients may also add specific screenings based on their needs or doctor’s recommendation. A basic checkup can take around three to four hours, with snacks provided during the visit.
Taking care of your health does not have to start with fear. Sometimes, it starts with finally making the appointment.
Want to start your health journey? contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632 8888 8999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.
