RP medical tourism seen to rebound as slump eases

A rebounding medical tourism industry emerging from the snares of global recession may benefit the Philippines especially as Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway, and Sweden look to South East Asia for cheaper and yet globally acceptable medical service.

Medical tourism-focused company Shimmian Manila Surgicenter is positioning for this expanding market despite the Philippine medical tourism sector's having been adversely hit too by the financial crisis. But European visitors are poised to come to countries like Singapore and the Philippines even now as recovery begins.

"We're seeing a recovery from the global recession.

Scandinavian visitors really want to go to South East Asia. And the Philippines has an advantage because people can enjoy a low price and an excellent service with us. I have clients from Sweden, Denmark, Finland. They want to go to South East Asia for these services," said Dr. Levi John G. Lansangan, facial plastic surgeon of Shimmian, in an interview at the Shimmian branch opening.

The Philippines is known for experienced medical professionals acknowledged for their degree of craftsmanship, mostly Europe-and-US-trained.

"Our cost of living is quite low," he said.

Since Scandinavian countries have socialist governments that shoulder most of their people's social welfare needs, including health benefits, their people find other extra health services very expensive.

That is why government should take advantage of these opportunities from potential European tourists by enhancing marketing efforts on medical tourism while ensuring quality of service and better international image locally through improved peace and order situation in the country.

"Our government, particularly the tourism department, has been very supportive. But we also have to improve our peace and order situation because people think it's dangerous to come here" due to high-profile criminality news that come out.

Even if Thailand or India may have already gone ahead in their image as a good place to go to for medical services, even for cosmetic surgery.

The value of medical service in India alone is estimated at $2 billion while worldwide medical tourism is estimated to be worth $20 billion a few years back and is seen to double by 2010, according to the "Challenges and Opportunities in the Medical Tourism Industry