The DOT is Working on a Blueprint to Develop Medical Tourism in the Philippines

The Philippines has “competitive advantages” that would be beneficial in further developing medical tourism in the country, according to the Department of Tourism. 

DOT secretary Christina Frasco said the agency is committed to promoting the country as a hub for medical tourism, which she said contributed some P15 billion to P25 billion in visitor receipts to the Philippine economy in 2023.

Frasco revealed the amount during a speech at the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC), which has been designated as a lead medical tourism facility accredited by the DOT. The secretary further said that the country recorded 30,524 international visitors who arrived in the country for medical purposes last year. While the DOT did not provide comparative figures for 2022 nor in previous years, the agency said SLMC accounts for “40 to 50 percent” or overall receipts and arrivals for medical tourism in 2023. 

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The burgeoning sector of medical tourism has prompted the DOT to vow to create a “Health Tourism Industry Blueprint” composed of government partners, including the Department of Health, Tieza (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority), and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The blueprint’s main goal is to ensure the comfort of tourists coming in for medical procedures. 

“This whole-of-government approach highlights our competitive advantages and ensures a seamless patient experience from arrival to departure,” the DOT said.

In addition, the DOT is planning to set up a medical tourism concierge and lounge in the country’s main aviation gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in coordination with the Manila International Airport Authority, the airlines, and Tieza, the DOT's infrastructure arm.

“This facility will provide end-to-end services for health travelers, including comfortable rest spaces, personalized welcome and escort services, expedited visa and customs clearance, and a one-stop center for medical enquiries and tourism advice,” Frasco said.

Despite the revenues medical tourism generated for the country in 2023, the country ranked last among Southeast Asian nations in the sector. Thailand is the runaway leader in the sector, reporting two million medical tourists visiting the country last year.

A rhinoplasty costs about 40 percent less in Thailand compared to the Philippines, according to an informal survey.

“The reason Thailand has driven this cost down is because of the volume [of treatments],” said SLMC president and CEO Dr. Dennis P. Serrano. “I am hoping that with this partnership with the DOT, we can drive many of the costs of healthcare to regionally competitive levels.” 

Serrano said SLMC’s reputation as a medical tourism hub has grown over the last few years, especially during the pandemic. “We created the first tourism bubble during the lockdown,” he said. “When you land in the airport, you are fetched by St. Luke’s and brought directly to the hospital. You get your wellness checkup, you get your acute care, your scheduled surgery, and then after the treatment, you are brought back to the airport.  That was something we pioneered because we felt that we could not put treatment of diseases and checkups for wellness on hold.”

The hospital now has a 24/7 dedicated concierge and International Patients Lounge, which it has made available to foreign patients, many of whom come from the Pacific Islands, the United States, Canada, and China.

“We’ve created ‘all-in’ packages for the commonly done surgical procedures here at St. Luke’s,” Serrano said. “Also in the works are creating cosmetic surgery packages. But I think as the business becomes more robust, then the prices go down.”

The DOT has accredited other hospitals for medical tourism, including Asian Hospital, Diliman Doctors Hospital, The Medical City, Makati Medical Center, and Manila Doctors Hospital, as well as nine ambulatory clinics dealing with aesthetic improvements and cosmetic surgeries, medical tests, and dental services.