THE Philippines is implementing measures to boost medical tourism in the country.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the pandemic-induced crisis brought the importance of medical travel and wellness tourism.

“We see so much untapped potential in the health and wellness industry. With world-class hospitals and facilities, skilled doctors and nurses, and the Filipino brand of hospitality, the Philippines is poised to become an attractive destination for medical tourism,” Puyat stressed.

“Currently, we have been implementing measures that will further develop the country as a medical tourism destination in a calibrated approach, including the development of an internal ecosystem and network of facilities in the country to accommodate concerns and issues surrounding this tourism product,” she added.

According to her, the DOT has developed a gold standard in approaching health and safety for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events, following the successful hosting of the 21st World Travel and Tourism (WTTC) Global Summit in Manila last April, as well as institutionalizing health and safety in tourism activities.

Likewise, Puyat noted the tourism department’s partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and Makati Medical Center (MMC) to attend to the medical needs of tourists.

She also cited the DOT’s ongoing coordination with relevant national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to get tourism workers vaccinated against COVID-19, which has led to a 98% inoculation rate and helped restore the confidence of people to travel to and within the Philippines.

“Untapped potential”

Juergen T. Steinmetz, a delegate in the recent WTTC Summit, shared his experience following the medical treatment at the Makati Medical Center for his left leg – which was diagnosed to be inflicted by a flesh-eating bacteria.

“It’s a secret to be revealed and in the making to come out and go viral. The Philippines will become the number one destination for medical tourism,” Steinmetz quipped in his recent article published by eturbonews.com.

“All the ingredients are here. Excellent world-class doctors and facilities, nurses that keep the standard for high-quality care around the world, and a beautiful country, wonderful beaches, good food, and exciting cities,” he added.

Steinmetz also noted the considerably cheaper medical costs in the Philippines compared to other countries.

Meanwhile, the DOT introduced its newly appointed director for medical, health, and wellness tourism, Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang.

Prior to his appointment, Tugbang led the Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism Program of the DOH and served with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Secretariat as the Technical Lead.

Dr. Tugbang is a registered medical doctor, board top-notcher nurse, and midwife.