WHY THE PHILIPPINES IS ONE OF THE BEST MEDICAL TOURISM DESTINATION IN THE WORLD: INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Do you my dear folks know that Americans are now looking beyond borders more than ever for solutions to their healthcare needs, leveraging medical travel opportunities to destinations that offer timely, quality, and affordable wellness program services?

“We have helped connect thousands of patients during the pandemic with healthcare providers, and as we emerge from the pandemic, we expect demand to grow globally and for healthcare consumers to travel in greater numbers than before as regional and global markets stabilize,” said the Chairman of the Medical Tourism Association.

From this point forward, have you also ever heard of people traveling to places for medical care?

Well…our beloved old homeland –the Philippines – is reportedly seeing 80,000 to 250,000 medical tourists annually. Patients come from Sri Lanka, East Asia, the Gulf States, Europe, North and South America, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Filipino workers and expatriates also travel back home to the archipelago to have their medical procedures.

According to the Medical Tourism Association, medical tourism is when people who live in one nation travel to another country to obtain medical, dental and surgical care while at the same time receiving equal to or greater care than they would have in their own principality, and are traveling for medical care because of affordability, better access to care or a higher level quality of being taken care. of.

And why would patients travel for medical care?

In depth, I would state that the main reasons are for affordability and quality health care…the cost savings alone could be up to 90%!

Since when did health care start in the Philippines?

In the year 2006, a bill was passed in the Philippine Congress creating the Medical Tourism Bureau, an organization that is assigned to lead in promoting health tourism. It was successful because the Philippines are among the list of choice destinations in the industry.

Perhaps you asked – why the Philippines?

I reckon because the Philippines is globally positioning itself as the heart of Asia, combining modern technology with Filipino culture and tradition, highlighting the warmth of our “kababayans.”

“We see so much untapped potential in the health and wellness industry. With world-class hospitals and facilities, skilled doctors and nurses, and the Filipino brand of hospitality, the Philippines is poised to become an attractive destination for medical tourism,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat noted.

“Currently, we have been implementing measures that will further develop the country as a medical tourism destination in a calibrated approach, including the development of an internal ecosystem and network of facilities in the country to accommodate concerns and issues surrounding this tourism product,” she added.

Foremost of all, it is actually in Asia! In the same way, it is the heart of global health care. Medical professionals in the Philippines were sent to Western countries to study and went back home to practice their profession. They are also known to be compassionate and friendly. The Philippines is one of the few countries who send quality medical professionals to the United States, as a testament to its quality medical education.

In the Philippines, prices of medical procedures are very costeffective; every process also cost less in the old homeland of ours. The living cost in the archipelagic republic is also very low when compared to foreign countries. So, even if the accommodation and transportation costs are added, the total treatment toll for visitors will be very much lower than their own place or home country.

Filipino medical staffs are trained to international standards and are highly-skilled. The medical staffs are extremely courteous and known to be hospitable people. Many doctors have international exposure, being trained and having worked in places like the United States, Australia and United Kingdom (UK). Most of the doctors spend almost 2 months a year in the US, for advanced studies so as to be fully updated with the latest developments in their field of work. There are also the latest advancements on their medical facilities.

English is widely spoken among the medical staff, and doctors. Health travelers to this country are mostly assisted by highly competent, English-speaking and Westerntrained medical staff in over 2,000 hospitals in the country.

Hospital rules and signs are carried in English. The medical staff can easily explain to their patients all they know regarding the medications to be taken and the precautions that should be followed after the treatment. This reduces the chances of misunderstanding which can occur between a foreign patient and a doctor. Moreover, the health care centers in the Philippines have help desks and translators at your service.

Hospitals catering to health tourism have state-of-the-art facilities. For medical tourists, it is advisable to avail themselves of the medical tourism packages offered by private hospitals and health facilities if they want to get the best healthcare services available.

Among the top hospitals for medical tourism in the Philippines include the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Established in 1975, the Philippine Heart Center is regarded as one of the most active cardiac care treatment and surgery center in the Asia-Pacific region. Located in a 2.7 hectare facility with two hospitals and a medical arts building, the institution offers various cardiac, cardio-pulmonary and cardiovascular procedures for both local and international patients.

Established only in 2002, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinglupa City is the first major private health facility in the south of Metro Manila. Success came quickly as in 2005 it received an award as the “Most Outstanding Modern Hospital.” It offers world-class treatments and facilities catering to

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

both local and international patients seeking various health services including cardiology, cosmetic surgery, dermatology, executive health screening, oncology, general surgery and urology among others.

The second Joint Commission International (JCI)-accredited health facility in the Philippines, St. Luke’s Medical Center is the premier health center in the old homeland that offers 21st century medical facilities and services using the most advanced technologies. Established in 1903, the hospital has 9 institutes, 13 departments and a total of 19 health centers offering various medical treatments and procedures. These cater for both local and international clientele.

Established in 1956, this International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-certified health facility is a private tertiary hospital that offers various health and medical services catering to local and international patients. Among the services offered are industrial medicine, nuclear medicine, radiology, rehabilitation medicine, special diagnostics, laboratory medicine and other clinical services.

Foreign medical tourists to the Philippines usually go for aesthetic and un-complicated procedures and for more invasive procedures such as liposuction, face lifts and tummy tucks, whilst Filipino expats return home for all types of medical procedures. Interestingly, the locals engage mostly in simple facial services.

5-star hotel room accommodations are available at very affordable prices. Aside from that, traveling to the Philippines is easy as its capital city is well connected to almost all the major airports in the world. It is also cheap to travel to the Philippines compared to other countries. Those who wish to stay for a longer period of time should obtain a visa before they leave their native country.

There are several choice vacation destinations in the Philippines that are perfect for fast and relaxing recovery after a medical procedure.

Tourists who undergo treatment in the Philippines have the option of traveling around at any of the islands in the country. The islands provide a stress-free environment. It also allows patient for proper after-care and follow-up treatments.

There is no doubt about it that the Philippines has the advantage that many healthcare providers speak English, as well as the ability to provide modern medical facilities, quality infrastructure, proximity to most of Asia’s major cities, and the ability of a caring local community to help in total healing in mind, body and spirit.

The presence that the Philippines has had a medical tourism destination in the world over the years and their efforts to improve tourism and healthcare infrastructure, highlight interest in the continued expansion to raise to the top Philippines as a medical tourist destination.

No wonder then, it’s certainly a secret to be revealed and in the making to come out and go viral. As per Puyat’s challenge to the next tourism secretary -“Adapt it or make it better” - the Philippines now is definitely poised and will become the number one destination for medical tourism, for sure.

Mabuhay!