Phl eyed as major medical tourism hub
The country still needs a marketing strategy to develop globally competitive medical services such as those offered by the neighboring countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.
Daily TribuneThe country still needs a marketing strategy to develop globally competitive medical services such as those offered by the neighboring countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.
Sen. Sonny Angara/File Photo.
Senator Sonny Angara sees the Philippines could become one of the world's top medical tourism destinations if the government pushes "appropriate" interventions for Filipino medical professionals and health facilities.
In a statement Saturday, Angara said the Filipino health professionals are globally competitive and well-known for their hard work and dedication — making the Philippines a "prime candidate" to becoming one of the world's leading destinations for people seeking medical care overseas.
Angara said the country still needs a marketing strategy to develop globally competitive medical services such as those offered by the neighboring countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea.
"Despite the many key advantages the Philippines health and wellness industry has over its competition, it still lags in attracting inbound patients seeking medical services," he added.
Angara cited the Philippines ranked 24 out of 46 countries in the 2020 Medical Tourism Index because of its "inability to market and lack some key health facilities and other infrastructures" in the country.
He said the medical tourism market was estimated at $11.5 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow to $53 billion by 2028.
According to the Medical Tourism Association, around 14 million people travel outside their countries for medical care annually.
He further cited research suggesting that the global anti-aging market is already valued at $60.42 billion as of 2021, and this is expected to double in growth by 2030.
Angara said the "motivations vary" for individuals seeking medical care outside their countries. But primarily, he said, it is due to the lower cost of health services, shorter to zero waiting time for some procedures, and the quality of care provided by the accepting countries.
