Medical Tourism

There is so much talk recently in the Philippines about Medical Tourism as possible additional source of foreign currency income as well as possible solution to the brain drain in the healthcare industry here. I thought medical tourism has gotten big in the Philippines and my mind brighten on the prospects of more hospitals requiring more medical equipment.

However, I was surprised that today's news (Yahoo news) about this topic does not include the Philippines as possible destination to where Europeans or even other Asians can have their medical procedures done at less costs.

Asia's medical tourism industry is expected to generate over 4.4 billion dollars a year by 2012, with India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea the top destinations, a leading travel firm said.

The news by the way noted that Bumrungrad International of Thailand, which now controls the Asian Hospital in Alabang, "..offers a full spectrum of surgical services...". No mention was made about Asian Hospital, though.

Bumrungrad International Hospital for example offers a full spectrum of surgical services performed by certified doctors all under one roof.

This could only mean that the Philippines medical tourism industry is still insignificant as far as the world is concerned. Perhaps Bumrungrad could lead the way and set an example to other hospitals how to attract medical tourists. But is the country ready to accept these tourists with all the political noise happening in the country these days?

I just hope our policy makers and politicians look deeply into this opportunity.