About Novagen

Mission and Vision

The Tan Family's Legacy of Love and Service

Pictures speak a thousand words, and this holds true once you step foot at Novaliches General Hospital. 

Inside, you are greeted by a grand painting of the Tan family of doctors –– NovaGen founders Dr. Francisco “Kiko” Tan and Dr. Nena Eng Tan stood like pillars as they watched over their five children who are also specialists in their respective fields of medicine.

The painting boasted of the family behind the decades-old hospital, but somehow, it seemed to assure patients that they were in good hands. 

Humble beginnings

From an early age, Doc Kiko and Doc Nena learned to grow a sense of responsibility after both their fathers passed away. This pushed them to study and work hard to provide for their families. As fate would have it, they met in Manila and got married. 

Early into their marriage, they started a clinic while serving as doctors for a hospital in Manila. Here, they would bring their five children and inadvertently expose them early to the field of medicine. 

“We grew up in the hospital. We would always accompany our parents and we would join them in their clinic when we were young,” said Dr. Ferdinand “Dodo” Tan, the youngest of the five siblings, and current medical director of NovaGen. 

“Usually, they would offer food as “bait” to convince us to come with them,” he said jokingly in Filipino. “Eventually, these hospital trips in Manila exposed me and my siblings to the beauty of our parents’ profession,” he added.

Doc Nena, an OB-GYNE, would often go on medical missions and other outreach activities in the provinces, while Doc Kiko, who was a general surgeon, served as a reliable medical partner who focused on their clinic, while participating in medical missions in his hometown.  

Doc Kiko and Doc Nena never forgot their humble beginnings, and every time they helped those in need, it was as if they saw glimpses of their past in the suffering of others. This inspired them to lead a life of service for the poor.

Bringing the ‘Tan brand’ closer to Novaliches

In between serving as doctors in other hospitals in Metro Manila and their regular medical missions, the couple noticed that their patients from Novaliches prefer to travel all the way to Manila to get hospital care. This was in the 80s, where commuting from Novaliches to Manila was tedious. 

“This gave my parents an idea – what if they build a hospital that is closer to their patients?  They have so much energy to serve their community, eventually, they thought that Novaliches was the perfect place to bring the Tan brand of healthcare service,” Doc Dodo said.

In 1996, construction for Novaliches General Hospital began. Doc Kiko’s penchant for Engineering was evident in his role in the three-storey hospital’s construction. 

After two years, the hospital stood proudly. Among its first services include Dermatology, Anesthesiology, Cardiology, and outpatient units.

After finishing their studies abroad, the Tan siblings also served at the hospital as both doctors and administrators. In 1999, the Department of Health declared NovaGen as a Level I hospital. At 45 beds, the facility was able to accept patients under Pediatrics, General Surgery, OB-GYNE, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, ENT, Internal Medicine, and Cardiology, with a Heart Station that included treadmill equipment and a Holter monitoring unit. 

Everything seemed to fall into place, but the Tan family admits that NovaGen struggled in its first 10 years. There were administrative issues that had to be resolved within their family, and Doc Dodo shared that what got them out of the woods was their constant communication and their desire to serve the people.  

“I remember my parents telling us that if we were to help those in need, it had to come from a genuine place in your heart. If your patients could not pay for their procedures or operations, the important thing is you were able to save their lives and you were able to make them happy,” he said.

Doc Kiko and Doc Nena reminded them that their eternal mission was to cater to  the health needs of the community, and Doc Dodo said that mission would not waver especially for their indigent patients. 

“My parents would say, ‘you should continue what we started. Continue serving the patients and don’t make them pay expensive hospital fees," he shared. 

#AlagangNovaGen: Where patients are family

“They always help us with our problems, so it didn’t matter if most of the doctors came from one family. When they transferred to Novaliches, we even followed them,” 83-year-old Zenaida Pisueña said. 

Another loyal patient, Lola Zenaida shared how she was in awe of the Tan family’s devotion to helping the town’s indigents. To her, this will always be the reason why she would choose NovaGen. She hopes that the Tan family and all of the hospital’s staff remain healthy so they can continue with their noble cause. 

While trust and compassion are definitely important, NovaGen also prides itself for being a competent health provider. 

“Every time I talk to my friends about our health conditions, I always recommend NovaGen because I know that they will not be disappointed. The doctors here are kind and professional,” she said.

Through word of mouth and NovaGen’s high quality services, the Tan family managed to build a safe haven that’s been around for more than 20 years. 

Medical Director Dr. Ferdinand Eng Tan shared how grateful he and his siblings are for the opportunity to continue their parent’s legacy: “The mission ever since was to pursue the health needs of the community. It will remain that way regardless of your financial status,” he said.

“We are thankful that my parents' patients, their sons, daughters and even their grandchildren, come back to us for their medical needs. They are truly a part of our family – the NovaGen family,” he added.