Medical Tourist Visas

[Jollygoodfellow]

All this is good but why dont they do more to get foreigners to stay in the country to spend their money. Philippines to offer medical tourist visasMANILA, Philippines - The Philippines said Tuesday it would introduce special medical visas for foreigners, as the country seeks to grab a bigger share of Asia's booming health tourism industry.The medical tourist visas, to be introduced this year, will allow foreigners to stay in the country for six months without having to apply for extensions as regular tourists are required to do, according to the Bureau of Immigration."The visa will help the Philippines become competitive in the lucrative medical tourism market in Asia now dominated by Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand among others," immigration bureau deputy head Ronaldo Ledesma told AFP.The government is banking on its English-speaking and internationally trained doctors among its advantages, as well as medical and surgical costs that are up to 50 percent cheaper than the United States or Europe."We are blessed with a rich pool of doctors, nurses and other health professionals and we might as well exploit this opportunity to cash in on the medical tourism boom," Ledesma said."We are optimistic that once we begin offering this visa, we will have more visitors from Europe and the United States."The Philippines' health department launched a program in 2004 to promote medical tourism by encouraging state hospitals and specialised private institutions to compete with medical organisations elsewhere in Asia. http://health.asiaon...120-259216.html

[Old55]

All this is good but why dont they do more to get foreigners to stay in the country to spend their money.Philippines to offer medical tourist visasMANILA, Philippines - The Philippines said Tuesday it would introduce special medical visas for foreigners, as the country seeks to grab a bigger share of Asia's booming health tourism industry.The medical tourist visas, to be introduced this year, will allow foreigners to stay in the country for six months without having to apply for extensions as regular tourists are required to do, according to the Bureau of Immigration."The visa will help the Philippines become competitive in the lucrative medical tourism market in Asia now dominated by Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand among others," immigration bureau deputy head Ronaldo Ledesma told AFP.The government is banking on its English-speaking and internationally trained doctors among its advantages, as well as medical and surgical costs that are up to 50 percent cheaper than the United States or Europe."We are blessed with a rich pool of doctors, nurses and other health professionals and we might as well exploit this opportunity to cash in on the medical tourism boom," Ledesma said."We are optimistic that once we begin offering this visa, we will have more visitors from Europe and the United States."The Philippines' health department launched a program in 2004 to promote medical tourism by encouraging state hospitals and specialised private institutions to compete with medical organisations elsewhere in Asia.http://health.asiaon...120-259216.html

Sadly the medical conditions in Philippines today are third world. There are several good hospitals in Manila and Cebu City. I would never elect to have any major procedure done there. Thailand and to a lesser degree India have world class cosmetic, joint replacement and heart centers on par with USA or Europe. Recently NPR (US public radio) investigated some palatial resort/hospitals in Thailand and found some US medical insurance plans would gladly pay for those procedures. My Filipina sister in law is an RN here in the States. She would never suggest using a Filipino hospital unless there was no other choice. I also have a Filipino friend who is a retired Doctor who feels the same way. Most wealthy Filipinos travel overseas to Hong Kong or USA if they have serious medical conditions.If Philippines were to provide state of the art facilities and staff there could be a market someday but none now.

[Mr Lee]

My guess, and from what I have been told by others who have used their services is that they do things in hospitals much like they do them in life in the Philippines. Sorry your medicine is out of stock sir, sorry your nurse is not in yet sir, sorry sorry sorry. So first they need to fix the system for it to even have a shot at working, but I do know of a number of people including myself who go to the PHL to get their teeth fixed and caps put on because it is soooooooo much less expensive to do :yes: and I know there are many good doctors and good nurses, so it might happen someday if they get good hospital administrators.

[Dave Hounddriver]

I'm jusht drinkin' fer medicinal reasons. Whar do I gets that dern medical visa.

[Old55]

My guess, and from what I have been told by others who have used their services is that they do things in hospitals much like they do them in life in the Philippines. Sorry your medicine is out of stock sir, sorry your nurse is not in yet sir, sorry sorry sorry. So first they need to fix the system for it to even have a shot at working, but I do know of a number of people including myself who go to the PHL to get their teeth fixed and caps put on because it is soooooooo much less expensive to do :yes: and I know there are many good doctors and good nurses, so it might happen someday if they get good hospital administrators.

Great point Lee, it costs $200 to $300 less for me to get a ceramic crown and the whole family's teeth cleaned in Cebu than the deductible cost here in the States for one crown and I have gold plated health-care insurance.I understand most ceramic crowns used in the US are made in Manila not 100% sure if that is true or not.