Hospitals in Philippines

Hospitals in Philippines belong to both private and public categories. There is a vast difference between the healthcare standards in the cities and the rural areas. In many hospitals in the Manila Metro the standards of healthcare are equal to western countries, whereas the hospitals in rural areas provide barely adequate medical care. Private hospitals are more expensive than the public hospitals and provide better quality of health care. Public hospitals provide free consultation as well as medication. The patient only has to buy the medicines from the pharmacy. But public hospitals in Metro Manila and other big cities are usually overcrowded and poorly equipped. Some private hospitals in Metro Manila are furnished in luxurious way, equal to the best western hospitals. The most famous hospitals in Metro Manila are Makati Medical Center and Manila Doctors Hospital. Luxury rooms in these hospitals are similar to rooms in luxury hotels with wall-to-wall carpeting, kitchen, refrigerator, color television, telephone, and air conditioner. The hospital fees depends on the type of room taken. Private hospitals in Manila and other big cities usually require a cash deposit before commencing treatment. Of course, in medical emergencies doctors don’t insist on a cash deposit before starting treatment. Patients can pay through credit card also. Credit card holders generally don’t need to make a cash deposit. The fees of doctors are not regulated in Philippines. The fees vary greatly and depend on the doctor. A general physician charges 30 to 50 pesos per consultation, whereas a specialist may charge 100 to 300 pesos per consultation. There are a few hospitals in Philippines whose fame extends beyond the boundaries of the country. The Philippine Heart Center for South East Asia, the Lung Center and the Kidney Foundation are famous in the world for their high quality medical care. The Makati Medical Center has the reputation for being the best hospital in the country.

Medical Tourism in Philippines

Medical tourism in Philippines is still in the beginning stage. Some of the private hospitals have gained fame across the region and are attracting patients from the surrounding areas. Most medical tourists come here to seek eye, dental, and cosmetic surgery treatments. St. Luke’s Medical Center started a medical referral program in 1995. St. Luke’s aims to be one of the top five medical tourism centers in Asia by 2010. In order to achieve this, St. Luke’s obtained international medical accreditation and forged alliances with the international medical insurance systems of other countries. The Asian Hospital sold 40 percent of its shares to Bumrungrad Hospital in 2005. Asian Hospital plans to duplicate the work practices of Bumrungrad Hospital of Thailand, which have made Bumrungrad Hospital a big success in medical tourism. About 10 percent of Asian Eye Institute’s patients are foreigners, although from the Asian subcontinent. Philippines is looking to improve its health, transport, and tourism infrastructure in order to encourage medical tourism in its country. However, medical costs in Philippines are higher than Thailand or India. A big disadvantage for Philippines is the high cost of medicines here, which often forms a large part of the total medical bill. Many hospitals and clinics are ISO certified and undergo periodic accreditation from the Department of Health. Many of the hospitals are Joint Commission International certified. The most common medical and surgical procedures for which patients seek treatment in Philippines are cosmetic and plastic surgery, dermatology, weight loss surgery, ophthalmology and dentistry. The cost of these procedures is a fraction of that in the US and UK, plus the added benefit of a vacation at a beautiful tourist destination.

Visa to Philippines

Everyone, except the following, require a visa to enter Philippines. The people who don’t require a visa are:

• bonafide foreign tourists for stays of less than 21 days provided they hold a valid passport. The above is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea, and many other countries, who require a visa even if they are staying in Philippines for less than seven days.

• holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports and some other countries for stays upto seven days.

• transit passengers who intend to continue their journey within 72 hours.

All tourists who wish to stay on longer than 21 days require a visa. For more information about the visa policies of Philippines, click here. Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines.

Hotels in Philippines

To book hotels in Philippines online, click here.

Asiatravel.com – www.asiatravel.com
Southtravels.com – www.southtravels.com