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Healthcare, especially for critical illness, oftentimes feels transactional because of the burden it brings to the patient’s daily living domain – from the time of diagnosis until after hospital care. HI-Eisai Pharmaceutical, Inc. (HI-Eisai) is changing this perception by putting human connection at the core of its practice to restore trust and dignity throughout the care journey.
Such is the unique concept of Human Health Care (HHC) that HI- Eisai– a partnership between Japan’s Eisai Group and Yuchengco Group of Companies’ (YGC) House of Investments – has embraced not just as an internal philosophy, but as a binding corporate concept.
HHC in practice
The uniqueness of HHC lies in the way it is rooted in understanding tacit knowledge surrounding patients’ and their families’ unspoken emotions of fear, anger, joy, and hope. According to Jonnahs Singian, HI-Eisai’s President and General Manager, the company is redefining what patient-centered care means in the Philippines by placing human connection, dignity, and compassion at the heart of every interaction. More than a corporate principle, HHC serves as the company’s guiding philosophy — shaping how it engages with patients, healthcare professionals, caregivers, communities, and partners.
“HHC is about spending time with patients and their families, listening deeply, and understanding the burdens they carry,” shares Mr. Singian. “When you truly understand people’s lived realities, you create solutions that bring meaningful value not only to patients, but to everyone involved in their care journey.”
For HI-Eisai, healthcare is not limited to hospitals or clinics. It extends into the patient’s daily living domain — the spaces where families, caregivers, friends, healthcare workers, local government units, NGOs, volunteers, and corporate partners all play vital roles.
Restoring human dignity
The emotional and financial strain of being critically ill often leave patients with guilt for being a burden to the family, and caregivers feeling isolated. HI-Eisai’s interactions with patients and their families reveal that the burden of disease can get too much to bear.
Dementia caregivers, for example, feel lonely taking care of their sick loved ones. On the other hand, the patients themselves often feel confused, frustrated, or embarrassed because of their fading memory.
“For many patients and caregivers, the greatest burden is not the illness itself, but the emotional strain that comes with it,” says Mr. Singian. “Fear, stigma, and uncertainty can deeply impact both patients and families.”
Through HHC initiatives and patient interactions, HI-Eisai aims to restore not only care, but also dignity. Patients and caregivers who have experienced HHC firsthand often describe feeling seen, heard, respected, and emotionally supported.
By fostering genuine human connection, HI-Eisai helps cultivate trust, reassurance, and renewed hope — elements that are just as important in healing as medicine itself.
The business of human connection
For HI-Eisai, prioritizing people is not separate from business success — it is foundational to it.
Mr. Singian emphasizes that patient satisfaction and meaningful societal impact come before revenue and profit, influencing how the company makes decisions and builds partnerships.
“Putting people first is not only the right thing to do — it is also sustainable,” he affirms. “It strengthens trust, deepens relationships, and creates an ecosystem where accessible healthcare and responsible business growth can coexist.”
By leveraging the strengths of different sectors, the company aims to make Human Health Care scalable, inclusive, and enduring.
“When organizations and communities move together with empathy, trust, and shared purpose, we build a healthcare ecosystem that is resilient and truly patient-centered,” Mr. Singian concludes. “That is the essence of Human Health Care — humanizing healthcare, together.”
