New health accreditation program introduced in The Philippines

An international group has launched an accreditation programme for hospitals, clinics, and wellness centres in The Philippines to improve healthcare services and promote medical tourism in the country. The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and its Philippine representative HealthCORE, has launched a global programme that accredits hospitals, clinics, blood banks, medical laboratories, dental clinics, spas, fitness centers, and cosmetic and skin care centers.

An international group has launched an accreditation programme for hospitals, clinics, and wellness centres in The Philippines to improve healthcare services and promote medical tourism in the country.

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and its Philippine representative HealthCORE, has launched a global programme that accredits hospitals, clinics, blood banks, medical laboratories, dental clinics, spas, fitness centers, and cosmetic and skin care centers. The NABH standards aim to raise the quality of healthcare facilities and the level of professionals’ skills to meet international standards.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Tourism have been promoting the country as a medical tourism destination. But hospitals and clinics have yet to compete with leading medical tourism destinations in Asia such as Singapore, Hong Kong and India. One perceived problem is the lack of international accreditation. The Philippines has its own accreditation standards through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). However, PhilHealth is limited by what the law prescribes for it to do. PhilHealth is a national body for accrediting health care services, focused on financing issues and accreditation of hospitals, maternity clinics and other medical clinics. The government wants to make PhilHealth an internationally recognized accrediting body, but as this could take several years, NABH International has been welcomed by the Department of Health.

NABH International is a subsidiary of NABH in India, where the program was developed. NABH is accredited by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), an international body that approves healthcare accreditation programs around the world. Dr. Sanjiv Malik of NABH, says that international accreditation is the practical solution to quality and safety assurance, two important factors in medical tourism, ‘’International accreditation provides assurance to patients that they are in a hospital that follows protocols. It builds credibility and confidence, which generates recognition among foreign patients. This is the first time that NABH is taking its services outside of India. We have chosen the Philippines to be our first international venture because we believe that the Philippines faces similar healthcare challenges with India. In the first two years of NABH implementation, the quality of healthcare delivery in India has vastly improved, which helped us become one of the leading providers of healthcare in the world. We would like to carry out the same mission in the Philippines.”

The leading laser and aesthetic center in Japan has opened in the Philippines, targeting the fast-growing market for medical tourism. The Shinagawa Lasik and Aesthetics Center (Philippines) in Makati is owned by the Shinagawa Clinic Group. Shingawa says it is the first-ever Japanese medical technology in the Philippines and seeks to boost medical tourism in the country by attracting foreign clients to try their laser eye service that uses the most advanced and safest facilities.

Medical Tour Experts, Inc. (MTE) is a new Filipino-American company engaged exclusively in the promotion of medical tourism in the Philippines. MTE believes that the Filipino’s caring attitude and warm personality will make for a strong selling pitch in this fast-developing business. It is the only Filipino-owned healthcare company in the USA promoting the interest of the Philippines in the medical tourism business. In the US, a simple cosmetic surgery like breast augmentation could cost $12,000. In the Philippines, such surgery is routine and it costs only around $3500. But it’s not all that easy because there’s also the question in clients’ minds: are these doctors and facilities abroad as reliable as they claim they are? Are they as competent as doctors in America? MTE allows patients in the US to talk via video phone to specialist doctors in the Philippines. The agency is promoting cosmetic and dental surgery, bariatric treatment, neuro surgery, laparoscopic surgery, heart bypass, knee and hip replacement, kidney transplant, hair transplant, and more.