Medical tourism a shot in the arm for the Philippines
Nov 08, 2006
MANILA - The Philippines earned an estimated 200 million dollars this year from foreign patients seeking affordable medical services, the health department said Monday. A quarter million people flew into the country this year for cosmetic surgery, eye treatment or get their dentures fixed, said Health Undersecretary Jade del Mundo. It is the first year of government efforts to promote the Southeast Asian nation as a “medical tourism” site. The program seeks to offer the Philippines as a destination for health care and tourism where patients can go for rest and recreation while recuperating, De Mundo said. Low prices of health services and treatment are the main attractions of the Philippines, she told reporters. A ceramic denture for instance can be had for about 1,000 dollars, compared with 8,000 dollars in the United States, she said. Del Mundo said the government expected medical tourism turnover to be between 300 million and 400 million dollars next year, out of a global health care market valued at some three trillion dollars. She said the
Philippines now ranked just fifth in the business in Asia, with the field also dominated by Thailand, India, Malaysia, and Singapore in that order. Del Mundo said the government planned to ramp up the business by accrediting more quality hospitals and health care facilities and banking on Filipinos’ “unique” hospitality in taking care of patients. —
AFP
Source :
www.philippinenews.com
Medical tourism shows Philippines the money 
BY MIA M. GONZALEZ 
Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes the Philippines has what it takes to be a favoured medical tourism destination, having earned an estimated US$200 million from its first year in the industry in 2005.
“Medical tourism is one of the solid niches for the Philippines....Cost is competitive and quality is high, “ Arroyo said in a recent forum. She said that the Philippines has earned a reputation of having the
“best doctors, nurses and caregivers in the world and the best medical facilities” at competitive rates, which she hopes would allow it to get a heftier chunk of the US$3 trillion global medical tourism market. The government showcased its strength as a major market player in the industry at the first Philippine Medical Tourism Congress and Exposition on November 20 and 21, where the Philippines was announced as a major player in the global health care market. The exposition presented the Philippines’ best providers of healthcare, wellness and diverse tour travel services. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that lasik surgery, which reduces dependency on prescription glasses or contact lenses, costs only US$800 in the Philippines but would set back a patient by at least US$2,000 anywhere else.
"Blepharoplasty, or a procedure that widens the contour of the eyes and is popular among the Koreans and Japanese, costs only US$3,000 here but costs roughly US$10,000 in their countries," Bunye said.
Medical services offered can range from complex medical procedures such as heart valve replacements to orthodontal services, knee replacements, and cosmetic surgery by prime private medical institutions at far less cost compared to regional rates.
Arroyo had said earlier that medical tourism would not only help generate jobs and alleviate poverty in the Philippines, but would also entice doctors, nurses and other health workers—who are in high demand abroad—to remain in the Philippines. 
