OFWs viewed as ‘captured market’ for medical tourism

Overseas Filipino workers are a potential market for medical tourism.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of International Travel Agencies (Naitas), gave this observation when asked about the thrust of making the Philippines a destination for medical tourism.

OFWs are a ready market because once they retire, they would prefer to get medical treatment here, said Joseph.

“If foreigners say it’s very expensive to avail of medical treatment in their own countries, so do Filipinos working abroad. They are the first to come here, and they are our ‘captured’ market for medical tourism,” said Joseph in an interview last week.

Joseph  encouraged local governmts to complement the national government’s efforts by framing policies thhrough ordinances  that  define where their strengths and weaknesses accommodating this growing tourism market.

He said the lead agencies to guide stakeholders are the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“The LGUs should start developing their own master plan. This should be supported by ordinances to push for the development of medical tourism,” said Joseph.

For Cebu, he said, local officials could start by establishing retirement facilities and attractive retirement programs created by the government.

“This will attract not only the retirees but also the investors who will help setup the facilities like villages. Our target is the foreigners,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of public-private partnership.

He said the private sector should partner with government to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their communities.

He suggested three factors – incentives, infrastructure and promotions.

He said incentives should be developed, support infrastructure should be readied and aggressive promotions should be carried out.

If all parties get their act together,  the Philippines could get a share of the  medical tourism market in Asia, he said.

According to  data from the Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC) medical tourism  raked in $120 billion in revenues for 2006 in Asia which is a big  leap from  US$40 billion in 2000.

India is now the top destination for medical tourists around the world.

The total package for one medical tourist  is  $28,000, depending on the medical procedure. The package  includes accommodations and a vacation.

“They can save at least $77,000  compared to what they would spend for medical services  in Europe or the United States,” said Joseph.

Patria Aurora Roa, former regional tourism chief and trustee of CHWC, said yesterday that there’s a lot promise for Cebu  because Cebu has good facilities like hospitals and real estate developers ready to tailor projects for this market.

She said all that is needed is an enabling push from DOT, DTI, DOH and the local government.

“For DOT to fully give rightful support, hospitals here should be accredited. I only know of one such hospital,” she said.  That should be prioritized as well as promotion,” said Roa.