On January 13, 2006, the headline read, “Philippines launches medical-tourism campaign”. The article quoted then as now, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, saying: “Government agencies and private clinics and hospitals will strive to make the Philippines the new hub of wellness and medical care in Asia”.
Global firm Allied Market Research says that the global medical- tourism market was valued at $61 billion in 2016. As of 2017 it is estimated that Tanzanian witch doctor Dr. Manyaunyau Tegeta, who gave up his jobs driving buses and fish gutting, has more medical tourism than the Philippines. Yes, Dr. Manyaunyau is real and can be reached on his cell phone at 0712-553169 or 0787-631291.
All right, maybe that is an exaggeration, but the Philippines is not exactly on the top of the list for those seeking medical treatment outside of their home country.
Even 40 years ago, Mexico was the place to go for United States residents seeking five-star dental care and cosmetic surgery at ordinary US clinic prices. In 2016 over 11 million people left the United States for affordable health care. In terms of quality as a destination, the Philippines ranks No. 8 in the world. But the country does not hit even the top 10 in actual medical-tourism visitors.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has an estimate of approximately 80,000 to 250,000 patients annually. With data like that, it is not an estimate; it is a guess.
I became interested in medical tourism through my personal dentist, Dr. Anselmo M. Tripon Jr. of Bel-Air Dental Care in Makati. My long time good friend and neighbor, Jun, deserves a shameless plug for his business because he is the best dentist in the Philippines.
Want to see a doctor in Malaysia? Easy. Just go to the Malaysian government medical-tourism web site at medicaltourism.com.my. You will find options such as “My Honeymoon Experience: Sea & Sun, Food & Culture Plus Health Screening.” There is also the “My Beautiful Smile Dental Package,” including sightseeing and shopping tours. You can book everything online. When you arrive, you will be welcomed and escorted to the exclusive health travelers airport lounge where visa and Customs clearance will be taken care of. Transportation is prearranged.
Go to the Philippine DOT web site, and under “Health and Fitness” are web-site links to Belo Medical Group, Club One Health & Fitness Center and the Mandala Spa. The “Flight 168 Health Spa at the Air Force One KTV Club” was not included.
Dr. Jun receives foreign clients every month through two private international medical-tourism web sites. This business is significant because it opens up a new market. For example, a retired man from the US came to the Philippines to visit his old military buddies and had some dental work. His sister is coming next month, particularly to have extensive dental care. But the foreign business is not substantial. By now, Jun should have a separate clinic just for his foreign clients.
My friend uses two international medical-tourism web sites to promote his clinic. But this is like going to a hamburger web site and picking from Jollibee, McDonald’s and Burger Machine and without any official government support. He asks only one thing from the Philippine government and the DOT a dedicated, comprehensive medical-tourism portal. This can easily be done with the cooperation and assistance of the Philippine medical community.
The Malaysian government knows what the contribution to that economy is from medical tourism, and it is not a guess. In 2017 nearly 1 million medical tourists visited and spent $332 million. Apparently, there is no concept in Malaysia similar to ningas kugon.
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1 comment
Flight 168 Health Spa at the Air Force One KTV Club ?