The Philippines Puts its Medical Vacation Industry on High Priority

Promoting the Country as a Center for Health and Wellness Tourism in the World

In an effort to boost her country’s medical vacation industry in the face of increased demand due to rising costs (which are a major problem in healthcare in developed countries), Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently announced that the Department of Health (DOH) would actively showcase the country’s excellent facilities for health and wellness tourism in the world. To show she means business, the President has issued directives to the DOH to offer all forms of assistance to hospitals and clinics to help them upgrade their medical vacation services and facilities.

Medical Vacation Sector: Advantage Philippines

Speaking at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City, President Arroyo waxed eloquent on her country’s preparedness for meeting the enhanced demand for medical tourism, saying, “We have among the best doctors, nurses, [and] caregivers in the world.  We have among the best medical facilities, like here in Asian, and we can have more in the tourist zones in our super regions.”  The high quality and affordability of the Philippines’ health care services, combined with a competitive economy, she insisted, will play a pivotal role in boosting the burgeoning medical vacation industry in the country.

Increasing Demand Due to Rising Costs, a Major Problem in Healthcare

It must be mentioned that the Philippines, generally regarded as something of an under achiever in prosperous South East Asia, has been quick to cash in on the demand for affordable healthcare.  With rising costs in the West continuing to become a major problem in healthcare, Asian countries are quick to pounce on this new and potentially lucrative tourism sector. The Philippines has been foremost in this rush to position its healthcare facilities as the best for health and wellness tourism in the world.  For once, the country plans to put its money where its mouth is, and has drawn up ambitious programs to develop its medical vacation facilities to the standards of those offered by India and Thailand.

Source: “GMA Orders DOH To Help Hospital Actively Promoting…,” Bayanihan.org, November 08, 2006