Medical tourism in Cebu not taking off as expected

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s medical tourism sector is not growing as fast as expected, a hospital chain executive said.

Chong Hua Hospital (CHH) chief operating officer Dr. Helen Po said although Cebu’s medical treatment facilities are at par with international standards, it has to work harder to attract the high-grade medical tourists.

For CHH alone, which has over 2,000 beds, excluding the newly opened facility in Mandaue City, the number of foreign patients is not significant despite the Philippines' effort in positioning the country as a premier medical tourism hub.

What Cebu is having right now are foreigners or retirees from other countries who are married to Filipinas, who regularly come to hospitals for check-up. But, she said these are not the "legitimate" medical tourists, whose purpose is to come to Cebu to seek for medical care.

CHH, one of the largest hospital chains in Cebu, is accredited to seven foreign insurance firms, readying itself to accommodate medical tourists.

On the other hand, Po hopes that after the completion of the new airport, Cebu's positioning as medical tourism hub will take off due to better access to premium medical tourist market.

In an earlier interview with British Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau Asif Anwar Ahmad , he said the Philippines in general should deepen its programs gearing towards attracting the growing medical tourists, especially from the United Kingdom.

Ahmad said that in a country where medical professionals are the world's sought-after, medical tourism potential should be used as leverage.

Retirees who are considering to acquire second home properties in tropical countries like the Philippines, start to travel as medical tourists.

Like other foreign dignitaries, Ahmad expressed his confidence that Cebu has stronger advantage as a medical tourist's or a retiree's choice of destination because of its strategic location and diverse tourism option.

CHH will open its 350-bed specialty hospital on Thursday (February 18) at the two-hectare property in Mandaue City north reclamation area, along Mantawi International Road, parallel to Ouano Avenue.

While the Philippines is positioning as medical tourism hub, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) is strongly urging government and even capitalists for additional investments as the country needs at least 100 more hospitals or 100,000 more beds in the next three years to better facilitate the healthcare needs of Filipino patients. (FREEMAN)