All Headline News - Philippines To Target European Market For Its Medical Tourism Program - October 4, 2006
Philippines To Target European Market For Medical Tourism Program from Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent
The Philippine government's ambitious medical tourism program will attempt to penetrate the potentially lucrative European market October 2006 with the target of generating $300 million in revenue.
Health Undersecretary Jade del Mundo, the official in charge of the program on Tuesday said the Philippines has already made initial negotiations with several European hospitals and patients including Russia, Romania, Poland, Italy and France. These countries have expressed interest in several medical procedures which can be done locally.
Del Mundo said European patients have expressed interest in the coronary bypass and hip replacement surgeries and the local program for geriatric care.
He said these procedures were cheaper by 70 to 80 percent when performed within the Philippines. A coronary artery bypass graft would cost $50,000 in Europe and only $10,000 here.
Aside from lower cost of procedures, patients from Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom have recognised the high skills of Filipino doctors.
The official said, "Europe is really a very good prospect."
The Philippines is competing with Singapore, India and Thailand which are the top destinations for patients from Europe. The official adds, "If we become successful in the European market, we could beat Singapore and the other top Asian players."
Even sophisticated procedures such as the cancer immune therapy, which is traditionally offered to Europeans by Singapore, is already available in the Philippines at a much lower cost.
The Philippine government's ambitious medical tourism program will attempt to penetrate the potentially lucrative European market October 2006 with the target of generating $300 million in revenue.
Health Undersecretary Jade del Mundo, the official in charge of the program on Tuesday said the Philippines has already made initial negotiations with several European hospitals and patients including Russia, Romania, Poland, Italy and France. These countries have expressed interest in several medical procedures which can be done locally.
Del Mundo said European patients have expressed interest in the coronary bypass and hip replacement surgeries and the local program for geriatric care.
He said these procedures were cheaper by 70 to 80 percent when performed within the Philippines. A coronary artery bypass graft would cost $50,000 in Europe and only $10,000 here.
Aside from lower cost of procedures, patients from Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom have recognised the high skills of Filipino doctors.
The official said, "Europe is really a very good prospect."
The Philippines is competing with Singapore, India and Thailand which are the top destinations for patients from Europe. The official adds, "If we become successful in the European market, we could beat Singapore and the other top Asian players."
Even sophisticated procedures such as the cancer immune therapy, which is traditionally offered to Europeans by Singapore, is already available in the Philippines at a much lower cost.
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