Cebu becoming focus for medical tourism in the Philippines

While other areas of the Philippines are still talking about developing medical tourism, Cebu is making rapid progress. Seeing Cebu’s potential for medical tourism, a group of dentists and entrepreneurs have set up Dentaland, a dental clinic within a local shopping complex, the Ayala Center Cebu.It will offer high quality dental services at a low cost to medical tourists. The company will be opening another clinic next year and is also working on its accreditation.

Dentaland Inc. was formed by nine friends, seven of whom are dentists. The other two co-owners are Gino and Carmel de Pio-Salvador of Global Carrier Philippines, who handle the company’s marketing and management. The clinic is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art and modern hygienic facilities. It has created a room designed for children. The plan is to link up with hotels and with the wellness sector. Dentaland plans to work with the Cebu Health and Wellness Coalition as well as spas and other health and wellness destinations in Cebu.

After working with four hospitals in the Philippines, Accreditation Canada International is also hoping to work with two Cebu hospitals to get them international accreditation that would give foreign patients more confidence in their services. In the Philippines, the Manila Doctors’ Hospital has achieved accreditation from Accreditation Canada International, and the organization is working with the Philippine Heart Center, Asian Eye Institute and Clinica Manila.

Accreditation Canada works with hospitals in a step-by-step approach without overloading them with things that they need to do to get accredited. Hospitals believe that international accreditation will help them attract medical tourists. The accreditor does not have a fixed price, as it customises a programme to meet global health care standards to promote quality and safety in medical tourism. A well-prepared hospital can get accredited in 12 months, but the normal period is two years. Accreditation lasts for three years before it has to be renewed.

Medical tourism is one of seven growing economic sectors in the country identified by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) to help bring in foreign direct investments and create jobs. Among the core health care services identified by the Department of Tourism as in high demand among foreigners are executive checkups, cardiovascular care, cancer care, stem cell therapy, joint replacement surgery, weight management, eye care, dental care, cosmetic surgery, spa wellness treatments and long-term care and retirement.

But for the country to attract more foreign patients, the JFC is recommending that the government promotes medical travel packages, and finally develop and implement the long promised national policy on wellness and medical travel.