Solon wants creation of Medical Tourism Bureau

Tuesday, 05 July 2011 01:57

A bill creating a Medical Tourism Bureau to boost the medical tourism program and promote the health and wellness sector in the country has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), author of House Bill 3033, said the bureau, which shall be under the Department of Tourism (DOT), will centralize and integrate functions of eleven government agencies mandated to work together under the existing Philippine Medical Tourism Program of the government. The DOT has been at the forefront of medical tourism for years prior to the issuance of Executive Order 372 on October 22, 2004, creating the private-public sector partnership to promote development in three service sectors including the health and wellness sector, its programs and marketing efforts steadily reaped gains for the country, according to Biazon.

Biazon said the agency shall formulate policies on the development of medical tourism, implement plans and programs and facilitate simplification of procedures and regulations for the availment of medical services by foreign tourists, returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and other Filipinos abroad.

The Bureau shall also promote the country as a premier health and wellness destination, and approve construction standards of accredited health care facilities with the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH) and construction standards of accredited medical tourism-oriented and related establishments including hotels, resorts, and inns, Biazon added.

"Promoting the health and wellness sector especially the medical tourism industry will accelerate socio-economic development, earning of foreign exchange and stop the exodus of the country’s medical professionals," Biazon said.

Biazon said the medical tourism industry has huge revenue potential in the country, citing a study of the International Trade Commission in Geneva, Switzerland that the industry is a $40 billion global industry and expected to grow by $188 billion in 2013.

The Philippines projects a conservative $125 million on the first few years and growing progressively each year from the medical tourism industry, Biazon said.

"After all the country's medical professionals, having been educated and trained in top medical universities in Europe and the United States, are among the best in the world and among the most sought after," Biazon said.

"The concept of this new tourism product is to offer cost-effective medical treatments while showcasing tourist attractions in the Philippines," Biazon added.