Biz group backs medical tourism in Central Luzon

he Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) has reaffirmed its support to the promotion of medical tourism as a sunrise industry in Central Luzon.
Invited by the Central Luzon Medical Tourism Regional Core Group to a stakeholder's meeting in October 21, the chamber has repositioned itself behind the industry that is making waves among the emerging and promising businesses in the region.

PamCham executive director Joyce Duldulao said the regional core group is composed of the Departments of Health, Trade and Industry, Tourism, Labor and Employment, Interior and Local Government, Commission on Higher Education, National Economic Development Authority, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

During the meeting, the group presented a comprehensive development plan for the medical tourism industry.

In the October 21 meeting, Professor Cherry Lyn Rodolfo of the University of Asia and the Pacific said global trends in health services bode well for the medical tourism industry in the country.

Foreign patients seeking treatment abroad are frequenting Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines, she said. There is also the aspect of Tele Health composed of Telemedicine and Business Process Outsourcing in medical transcription and bills processing.

Rodolfo stressed that the major players in the emergent industry is the private sector and the government's role is that of an enabler-providing vital soft and hard infrastructure to pave the way for a more coordinated and effective harnessing of cross border health services, telemedicine, and health related BPO services, such as processing of medical bills and insurance claims.

The professor's presentation cited the following factors as the major drivers for the increasing demand for offshore medical services: aging populations abroad; shortage in supply of health professionals; relatively high costs of medical services; long waiting times for treatment; lack of qualified healthcare professionals; and lack of quality healthcare facilities

The Philippines, she said, has distinct advantages over its Asian neighbors in terms of language, temperament, inherent concern for the welfare of the elderly and the sick and a positive outlook in life that puts a patient naturally at ease.

"This is the reason why Filipinos thrive abroad as service providers, health related or otherwise, as evidenced by the growing demand for their services in the US, Europe, Australia, Japan and nearby Asian countries," she said.

On this premise, Rodolfo added, the value proposition of the professor is "Filipino health and wellness professional services are experienced at their global best in the Philippine homeland" thus the foundation of the medical tourism in the country.

It is hoped that the partnership of the public and private sector in this emerging industry will position the country in the global perception as an attractive and viable medical tourism destination in Asia.

Also providing inputs on the industry were: Dr. Anthony Calibo, program manager, Philippine Medical Tourism Program, DOH and Dr. Rio Magpantay, regional director of DOH and newly appointed chairman of the CL Medical Tourism Core Group.

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