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Saturday, June 24, 2006
Cebu needs right services for medical tourism
Cebu has the potential of earning billions of pesos if it starts tapping opportunities for it to become a medical tourism site in the country.
More importantly, stakeholders in the industry should also start addressing numerous concerns that usually affect a medical tou-rist’s decision to consider coming to the province.
Medical tourism is defined as a package that involves providing hassle-free and efficient world-class medical care at a lesser cost and a tropical vacation to pamper patients and their families.
Under this concept, a patient communicates with the physician and is given special travel arrangements and hotel or shopping discounts. Upon his arrival, hospital personnel will pick him up at the airport and take him to a beach resort or hotel to rest.
The patient stays in the resort until he needs to go to the hospital. Once given a clean bill of health, he or she will be taken to the airport.
But two medical practitioners said in a recent forum that while Cebu has all the amenities and resources to become the top medical tourist spot in the country, addressing these concerns should be prioritized.
Accredited
Dr. Philip Chua, one of the speakers during Thursday’s Health and Wellness Forum, said the primary issue to be considered is the health care coverage of medical tourists.
Chua said medical tourist centers here should be duly accredited for them to honor international health service providers.
Chua is vice president for Far East operations of the Cardiovascular Hospitals of America and chairman of the cardiovascular surgery of the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital.
He also highlighted the need for government to make Cebu an “enabling and tempting environment.”
To do this, Chua cited the need for attractive incentives, such as tax exemptions and reduced tariff on medical equipment, considering that the country’s political situation is not conducive for business.
Chua also suggested that both the national and local governments should also start launching programs in target countries to lure medical tourists.
He, however, said local government officials are taking steps to promote medical tourism.
In another talk, Dr. Alfonso Amores identified communication, fund transfer, travel and hotel, quality of facilities, and the nursing, paramedical and medical professionals as among the issues that should be addressed before the government goes full-blast in pursuing the medical tourism industry.
Amores is the chief executive officer of the Cosmetic Surgery Center of Asia.
Other concerns
He said medical tourist facilities should have adequate communications equipment to hasten consultation with the patients.
Stakeholders should also draw mechanisms on how to go about the payment for the services to be availed of by the medical tourists, as most of these services are paid before the patient comes to the country.
Fund transfers include cash, bank transfers, e-commerce and checks.
As for travel and hotel, Amores said airports should have hospitality lounges and transportation, while hotels should have innovative accommodations and arrangements.
Amores also mentioned the need to have a comfortable waiting room, which he said is the most important part of a physician’s office. Other doctors’ facilities include laboratory facilities and out-patient surgicenters.
As for medical practitioners, Amores said it is important for hospitals to find out where its staff is trained and certified as this affects the quality of service rendered.
While there are downsides to medical tourism, Chua said its boom will surely improve the country’s health care system—one basic service that is perceived to have been neglected. (RCT)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 24, 2006 issue)
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