The Philippines eyes health travellers from the Middle East
Government officials marketed the country at international medical tourism conference
T
he Department of Tourism in the Philippines is planning to attract medical tourists from the Middle East in an attempt to turn the country into a popular health travel destination , according to the Philippine News Agency .
The announcement was made at the signing of an agreement with the Dubai-based Agora Group to boost the country ’ s medical tourism credentials at the International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress that took place in Dusseldorf , Germany , from June 8 to 9 .
�We are giving the Philippines a fighting chance at becoming a tourism powerhouse in Asia . And we recognize that medical tourism and wellness tourism hold one of the keys to this endeavor because we have the people , we have the facilities , and we are adjusting government policies to ensure that the climate for medical tourism to thrive will ensue , � Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco was quoted as saying by the Philippine News Agency .
She added that the Middle East was a promising health travel market because people from the region had a “ culture of medical travel� along with large disposable incomes .
In the Philippines there are 23 healthcare providers accredited by the International Society for �uality in Health Care and many other where medical staff speak English while treatment cost is often cheaper than in the Gulf countries or Europe , Arab News reported .
Medical tourists flock to Johor
Malaysian city is an appealing healthcare destination for both Indonesians and Singaporeans
An increasing number of overseas patients is checking in at hospitals in Johor Bahru , a southern Malaysian city close to Singapore , Channel News Asia reports .
Most of them are from Indonesia , Singapore , and China , while the most sought-after procedures include orthopaedic treatments , obstetric and gynaecological consultations , fertility and cancer care .
Serena Yong , Chief Executive for Johor-based Regency Hospital , told Channel News Asia the hospital treats about 200,000 patients a year , with 15 to 20 percent of them coming from overseas .
“ We can see that the number of foreign patients has increased recently to beyond pre-pandemic levels . We are seeing more Singaporeans and Indonesians and this is very encouraging , � said Yong .
Similarly , Columbia Asia Hospital has seen a “ tremendous increase in foreign patients seeking treatment� after the pandemic was brought under control .
“ The number of foreign patients from the likes of Indonesia , Singapore and China surged post pandemic and this has helped our business , � the hospital ’ s regional manager Rahani Yaakob told Channel News Asia .
In addition to the quality of care provided at its hospitals , geographical proximity to both Singapore and Indonesia and affordable healthcare costs make Johor a go-to destination for Indonesians and Singaporeans .
“ Putting aside government subsidies and the exchange rate , the cost of treatment is at least 50 per cent lower in Malaysia than in Singapore and some places in Indonesia , � Dr Teo Yin Keong , an oncologist at Gleneagles Medini , told Channel News Asia .
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