GMA pushes for medical tourism in the Philippines

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has called on the active promotion of medical tourism in the country during a roundtable discussion held at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City.

The roundtable discussion, which was aired over NBN-4, RPN-9, and IBC-13, tackled the potential of the medical tourism industry in the country to create a niche in the international market. The discussion was attended by Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco Duque III, Philippine Retirement Authority Chairman Ret. Gen. Edgar Aglipay, Asian Hospital executives CEO Pamela Robinson and medical director Dr. Antonio Rivera, Dr. Manny Calayan of the Calayan Surgi-Centre, and David Bunevacz of the Beverly Hills 6750 Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Institute.

President Arroyo said medical tourism is one of the solid niches where the Philippines can excel, as the country has “some of the best doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers that are best in the world. We have the best medical facilities offered in major hospitals like Asian Hospital. And we can have more of this in the tourist zones in the regions as cost is competitive and the quality is high.”