Geographical concerns deter RP medical tourism growth

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the Philippines active stance on attracting foreign medical tourists especially from Europe and United Kingdom (UK), the country is not expected to draw volumes of this market due to “geographical issue.”

British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie said Cebu specifically has attractive ingredients to supposedly catch the attention of Brit medical tourists, however its lack of direct flight, and geographical concerns are two main reasons why there are still less European and British medical tourists considering the Philippines as their top pick location.

Traveling to the Philippines is a long way for British nationals. And if these are aged people, they need utmost convenience while traveling.

The issue of direct flight from UK to Cebu, can not only affect the province’s positioning as premier medical tourism destination, but generally it also have an effect of inviting Brit tourists to Cebu.

On the other hand, the Department of Health (DoH) head for special concerns Anthony Calibo said that the future of medical tourism in the Philippines is not depend on the volume of foreign clients, but its growth is largely dependent on the Filipinos working and residing abroad.

“Unlike other countries, the Philippines has its natural market. It is not relying on foreign patients, because the source of constant and sustainable growth for the industry is the OFWs, or the Filipinos residing and working abroad,” Calibo said.

According to Calibo regardless if foreigners come in the Philippines or not to seek medical help, the medical tourism industry here will still grow “because we have growing OFWs, who prefer to get medical attention in their home land.”

If foreigners find it very expensive to avail of medical care in their own countries, how much more the Filipinos working abroad, “they are the first to come, and they are our ‘captured’ market for medical tourism.”

Calibo admitted that the Philippines’ positioning as premier medical tourism destination, has been always put on the sidelight compared to other countries like Thailand, and India, because of negative publicities brought about by recent calamities like typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, and the recent Maguindanao massacre, among others.

Good thing, he said that the Philippines will be assured of the dollar-earning Filipinos to go back to their home-country to avail of the different medical services, including vanity, dental, and executive check-up, among others.

Calibo underscored the top-notch and world-sought-after Filipino nurses, and good English speaking medical professionals, as one of the few advantages of the Philippines, compared to other countries.

“They may take our nurses out, but we still have good nurses and medical practitioners here,” Calibo said.

However, there are still challenges that the medical institutions in the country should address seriously. This is in providing world-class medical services and technology, as the Philippines is already on top in terms of human-touch.

Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office director Nelia F. Navarro said so far, vanity and dental services have emerged strong medical services here in Cebu being availed of by foreigners, and Filipino citizens residing or working abroad.