Posted on 03/07/2010 5:26:37 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
THE Philippines should maximize its potential as a medical tourism, wellness and retirement hub in Asia, experts said.
Medical tourism alone is projected to be a $188-billion industry by 2013, as more and more people seek quality health care overseas. Medical tourism in the Philippines is quietly but surely bringing benefits into the country.
More than revenue, the benefits of medical tourism, wellness and retirement combined are larger, more substantial and more long-term than what can be quantified simply in financial terms, Sanjiv Malik, a renowned guru in medical tourism in India, told reporters during a press conference at the Marriott Hotel in preparation for the country’s hosting of the International Summit on Medical Travel, Wellness and Retirement, or IMWell Summit, to be held from October 12 to 15 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
The landmark international event is hoped to promote medical tourism and forge regional cooperation for health, wellness and retirement among Asian countries.
The summit will set the stage in presenting the global state of health care, which results in people crossing international borders in search of total healing and wellness, according to the summit’s organizers.
According to Malik, who is also the honorary chairman of the IMWell Summit, the Philippines and other Asian countries should be able to gain from the pains being experienced by countries like the United States, which is currently being troubled by health-care problems.
Currently, he said medical travel is estimated to be in the range of $40 billion to $60 billion, growing at a rate of 20 percent per year.
Given the figure, he said the Philippines should be able to benefit from what he describes as a sunrise industry.
Malik said current US health-care challenges include the fact that there are currently over 50 million uninsured Americans, and that there are still a large number of underinsured individuals. He said the US is, in fact, troubled by the increasing health-care insurance costs for employers.
Currently, he said US health-care costs continue to grow at a rate higher than overall inflation.
Citing US manpower needs for 2008, Malik said the US needs health-care workers for its aging population, such as nurses, 418,000; physical therapist, 81,000; medical assistants, 21,000; home health aides, 23,000; and respiratory therapists, 37,000.
On the other hand, Malik said among Europe and Canada’s health-care challenges are the increasing life expectancy of its people and the aging population, which makes public health-care infrastructure unable to cope with the number of patients. The patients, he said, may be more cost-conscious because they would otherwise receive free treatment.
Malik said the Philippines has what it takes to be a leading medical travel, wellness and retirement hub in Asia, and could very well match the phenomenal growth of India’s medical-tourism industry, given that the right policy environment is put in place.
“By offering quality health care at the right price, the Philippines will be able to attract potential medical tourists more than what the government is projecting,” he said.
If you’re elderly & need treatment you’ll HAVE to do it under Obamacare. You’ll just have to pay for it yourself. ;-)
Do they have socialized medicine?
Not that I know of.
My brother has in-laws from RP. As far as I know: it’s the same system we have in America. In Manila, it’s St Luke’s or Makati Medical which are top notch. The president of RP and members of the US Embassy head to Makati Med if help is needed and they love US dollars. If Obamacare passes (that’s IF), Cebu would be the potential place to set up such medical centers. That’s where AT&T and Paypal have their call centers.
“Do they have socialized medicine?”
The Philippines? No you pay but the cost is not bad.
I’ve heard there are a lot of Navy retirees there and that you can live like a king for about two grand a month.
Doctors & Medical care top notch . You can live in the PI for peanuts. The best alternative for someone who wants to start over and forgettaboutitall. TALAGA! Marami mabuti pakikisama ng bayon. Walan kalakohan. Try Zambales.. North of Subic Bay.
I’ve been reading up on the place for several years (My Asian service was in Korea, which is now a first-world nation) as a possible retirement destination. The two grand figure seems to be for Manila. In places like Cebu or in the the country it would be a fraction of that, even as low as $300-400 month.
http://www.LivingInThePhilippines.com
Plus, they are often offering treatments the US just does not. For example, I understand that there is a doc in Manila which does disc replacement. For me, who has had a ruptured L5, that is very attractive.
Sorry, I can’t give you the particulars. I heard “about” it from a Manila resident. I’m in process of tracking it down and at this time isn’t high on my priority list.
You can live like the Pope for two grand. A LOT of Ozzies retire here and they have a government pension of around $300 a month, and they seem to have plenty of beer money. What is amazing is the increasing numbers of senior-aged white women from the English, French and German parts of the world who are coming here to live... You see them walking around the malls, having drinks in the outdoors bars and Starbucks... Having a good time. Medical is affordable, people are friendly, plenty of activities from the HASH to MC clubs, billiard clubs, just about anything. Two grand and you are the Grand Poobah with a huge mansion, black SUV with a driver, and three maids. And an home theatre.
“Doctors & Medical care top notch . You can live in the PI for peanuts. The best alternative for someone who wants to start over and forgettaboutitall. TALAGA! Marami mabuti pakikisama ng bayon. Walan kalakohan. Try Zambales.. North of Subic Bay.”
I will build a place and retire there.
My wife is Filipino, is a naturalized US citizen, but is in the process of getting her Philippine citizenship back so that she will be a dual citizen (many Filipinos do this).
Anyway, if ObamaConManCare is passed and becomes law and at some point it becomes difficult to get the healthcare we want and need here, moving to the Philippines is an option we can and would exercise.
We presently live a few hours from the Mexican border. Already we go there for Rx medicine a few times a year, and occasionally for dental work. We are not alone — many many Americans frequent the town that we go to for the same purposes.
I fully expect that if ObamaConManCare passes, that in these Mexican border towns where prescription medicine, dental care, etc. are already common for Americans, that medical treatment meccas will pop up quickly offering all manner of treatment for Americans. And I believe that much of it will be done by American doctors who refuse to work for the US government for cheap, so will go across the border and set up shop, with many living in the US, and commuting just across the border to their new offices.
Cebu is just a fine place to live. Mrs. Altair and I plan on making our permanent residence there.
WHAT ABOUT BAGUIO? It’s way too hot anywhere else.
“My wife is Filipino, is a naturalized US citizen, but is in the process of getting her Philippine citizenship back so that she will be a dual citizen (many Filipinos do this).
Anyway, if ObamaConManCare is passed and becomes law and at some point it becomes difficult to get the healthcare we want and need here, moving to the Philippines is an option we can and would exercise.
We presently live a few hours from the Mexican border. Already we go there for Rx medicine a few times a year, and occasionally for dental work. We are not alone — many many Americans frequent the town that we go to for the same purposes.
I fully expect that if ObamaConManCare passes, that in these Mexican border towns where prescription medicine, dental care, etc. are already common for Americans, that medical treatment meccas will pop up quickly offering all manner of treatment for Americans. And I believe that much of it will be done by American doctors who refuse to work for the US government for cheap, so will go across the border and set up shop, with many living in the US, and commuting just across the border to their new offices.”
My Wife is a Filipina and I agree with your assessment of the situation,The Philippines has a push on Education the Kids are given prizes and medals and even written up in the news for academic achievements,Very different world there.
My mother in Law got sick and was hospitalized for a couple days, the Bill 10,000 Pesos nothing!
I like your Border Idea.
The brother is married to a Filipina and his wedding was in Cebu. Will never forget it. I was thinking of either getting a condo in Makati or Subic becaue regardless of the economy, large hi-rise condos keep sprouting up. last time I was there was 1.5 years ago and didnt want to come back.
My former classmate in university set up the Dell Call centers there and whenever his bosses called him to come back, he tries to delay and make excuses for the trip back LOL. He loves it too much.
>>Cebu is just a fine place to live. Mrs. Altair and I plan on making our permanent residence there.
Yes it is. That’s where my brother married her Filipina bride PLUS we were in Manila during Christmas and New Year.
THE BEST NEW YEARS IN THE WORLD. bar none. The loudest and een though the law prohibits firecrackers, everyone blatantly disregards it.
Also because it’s the only Christian nation in the world, they spend Christmas like no other. They would literally go to 5 am masses and eat breakfast in the streets for the 12 nights before Christmas. BTW, they dont do this PC crap that we have to endure in America and really greet each other: it’s Merry Christmas, maligayang pasko and NOT Happy Holidays.
The weather in Manila is more oppressive than I've found in most other places in Philippines. Cebu is a bit milder. Parts of Mindanao, particularly Davao Oriental (where Mrs. Altair was born) are truly out of this world in terms of nice weather + spectacular scenery. Of course, Mindanao has its own issues for foreigners (increasingly) of late and I'm afraid it will be awhile before I'm brave enough to go back.
The ocean around Cebu, particularly off Mactan Island (where the airport is and where Lapu Lapu ambushed Magellan) is unbelievable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.