Nephro Plus, Conifer Capital bring hope to renal care patients

A new chapter in compassionate healthcare in the Philippines unfolded on April 10 as American company Conifer Capital sealed a $7 million investment deal with homegrown dialysis provider Nephro Plus Consultancy Inc. at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City.

Albeit a business transaction on the surface, the agreement stands on a deeply human mission: to bring quality yet affordable life-sustaining dialysis care to more Filipinos who desperately need it.

At the heart of Nephro Plus is founder Donna Gatus Mangulabnan, a US-trained nurse who has spent the last decade building bridges between global medical standards and the needs of local communities. With three operational dialysis centers and more than 50,000 treatments delivered annually, her goal has always been clear — to make high-quality, accessible renal care a reality nationwide.

Donna Gatus Mangulabnan (right) beams as Conifer Capital’s Jimmy Quach signs on to support Nephro Plus’ mission of expanding access to life-saving dialysis care.

“She has more than enough on her hands already,” noted Jimmy Quach, Managing Partner of Conifer Capital, during the signing ceremony. “But her resolve to grow — not for profit alone, but to help more people — spoke volumes to us. You don’t meet many founders who do things with this much heart.”

Making it clear that it was Mangulabnan’s unwavering commitment to lowering treatment costs and expanding access that ultimately convinced Conifer to come on board, Quach added, “So you can see that Nephro Plus isn’t just addressing a market gap — it’s solving a national crisis. This is a rare chance to scale a category leader in a sector where supply cannot keep pace with policy-driven demand. Our partnership positions Nephro Plus to lead the transformation of renal care in the Philippines, one of Asia’s most underserved yet fastest-growing dialysis markets.”

The timing of the investment could not be more significant, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) now the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines, affecting more than seven million Filipinos. Yet the country faces a severe shortage in dialysis services, with Nephro Plus estimating that over 100,000 patients are in urgent need of treatment and that the nation still lacks around 8,000 dialysis stations.

Mangulabnan’s company has thus positioned itself to meet this demand not just by expanding clinics, but by offering a comprehensive ecosystem that includes consulting, operational support, and the distribution of specialized dialysis equipment. Its model is designed to empower both public and private sector partners, particularly through public-private partnership (PPP) clinics that align with recent PhilHealth reforms. Dialysis subsidies under the national insurer have surged from $300 million in 2022 to a projected $1.3 billion this year, creating new possibilities for scalable, sustainable care.

“This isn’t just business,” Mangulabnan emphasized. “Every clinic we open represents a community of lives that can be extended — mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who get to live longer, healthier, more hopeful lives. That’s always been the mission.”

Conifer Capital, a growth-focused investment firm, backs disruptive healthcare and business services companies across Southeast Asia. Its support for Nephro Plus reflects its commitment to scaling ventures that deliver meaningful, measurable impact, especially in sectors where demand far outweighs supply.

Also facilitating the deal was Rocket Equities, a Southeast Asia-focused financial advisory firm that works with regional growth leaders to raise capital and pursue strategic expansion.

As Holy Week unfolds across the nation, the Nephro Plus–Conifer partnership signed just last week stands as a timely reminder that compassion, when backed by commitment and resources, can be transformative — not just for patients, but for the entire healthcare system.