Medical Tourism in the Philippines

By Sigrid Salucop


Medical tourism in the Philippines grew in the year 2006 when the Asian country started promoting its health tourism industry thanks to the creation of the Medical Tourism Bureau.

The white sandy beaches of the Philippines are usually the main reason why many tourists from around the globe go to the tropical country. The sights, the sounds, the friendly locals are what makes the Philippines special.

Among its popular destinations aside from its rather busy capital Manila includes the beaches of Boracay, the verdant mountains of Batanes Islands, Sagada, and Abra, the majestic Mount Apo, the old Spanish towns of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, the beautiful churches of Cagayan Valley, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, among other scenic destinations on the Philippine countryside.

Aside from visiting the beautiful Philippine countryside however, lots of westerners flu to the Asian country to get medical treatment –from dental procedures to simple nip and tuck.

Why get medical treatment in the Philippines?

Medical tourism in the Philippines is a booming industry says the Diliman Diary, a local news publication in one of Metro Manila’s largest cities. During the first few years of medical tourism in the country, the Philippines was among the first choice destinations for those seeking healthcare services in exotic places. Health travelers choose the Philippines because of the highly competent, western-trained medical staff in over 2000 hospitals. Much like in other countries, Philippine hospitals go through periodic accreditation from the country’s Department of Health. Some medical institutions also have international accreditation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Joint Commissions International (JCI).

Costs: 80% less

Convenience & Travel Information

There are flights to and from MNL coming from Europe and North America. If you are planning to visit the Philippines for medical tourism purposes, you will basically stay in the general Metro Manila area where the best hospitals are located. Although medical tourism in the Philippines is also quite popular because of the exotic places you can go to after your procedure, please make sure to pack a lot of patience because metropolitan Manila is highly congested and the traffic is horrible.

For more information on getting a tourist visa, you can refer to this website. 

Photo via Philippine Travel Guide