By: Edwin Paul Magallona, MD

Cosmetic surgery has been on an upward trend worldwide especially with the constant and continuous development of surgical and non surgical techniques in recent years… from laser resurfacings to thread lifts…from endoscopic lift surgeries to minimally invasive rejuvenating methods…

Unfortunately these comparatively new and well-liked elective procedures together with the traditional and efficient surgeries are not usually accessible and cost-effective even to those living in developed countries as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, countries in Europe and parts of Asia. Medical and health services there in general have usually been costly. Cost of course has often been a substantial factor and critical consideration among several other points for the potential patient…it is soon after all something universal…The very good news though is that particular choose countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines just to name a few, have taken notice and have taken benefit of this dilemma by offering these surgeries at really reasonably priced rates to interested patients outside their territories. The substantial price differential between medical and surgical expenses between these developed countries and the Philippines in certain have produced patients abroad take a second look at this appealing option. Who won’t be amazed with obtaining a surgery package cost of about a third to a quarter of the price found in most developed countries with just the exact same results?

Medical tourism in the Philippines has actually been silently ongoing for decades now nevertheless it has only been lately wherein the Department of Tourism has in fact emphasized and strongly encouraged the Medical profession to join the band wagon. In Asia, Thailand still leads the way in organized and systematic channeling of medical tourism services especially in cosmetic plastic surgery. The Philippines is rapidly catching up although and is steadily getting a larger share of the pie.

In 2006, the Department of Well being in cooperation with the Department of Tourism came up with the Philippine Medical Tourism Program (PMTP) which is a multisectoral program with the ultimate objective of creating the Philippines the leading and foremost destination for wellness and medical care in Asia.

Aggressive local and overseas promotion and an improving tourism infrastructure is a priority of the Philippine government and has brought a considerable increase in medical tourism in the country. Initially driven and encouraged by quite competitive rates and expenses of surgery in this part of the world, patients are now flying in with the desire of having surgery and rejuvenation with the added bonus of seeing and experiencing the best places these islands can offer. Tagaytay, Batangas, Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, and Davao are just some of the more well-known tourist destinations which have caught the eye of our foreign visitors and “balikbayans”.

However, at times unknowingly, supplying significantly leverage in the development of this reasonably new market is truly and merely the inherent qualities of being a Filipino. The Filipino physician and support staff are generally compassionate, caring, friendly and hospitable. This not only assists in creating a foreign patient comfortable and relaxed but also ultimately makes his trip and surgery a very pleasant expertise. Aside from being usually fluent in the English language, the Filipino medical function force is competitive and of high standards as compared to their Asian neighbors.

Consequently when patients coming from abroad do decide to have elective cosmetic plastic surgeries here in the country, a lot more usually than not they get outstanding value for their income. Medical and surgical expertise, world class facilities and island destinations, mastery of English, and the typical Filipino, all contribute to the Philippines rise to global competitiveness in medical tourism. Basically put and every thing said absolutely nothing beats a combined quality and cost-effective surgery in the setting of a tropical paradise for leisure and recuperation.

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