MANILA – Quezon City is targeting to become one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world in three years, after Mayor Herbert Bautista signed the “QC Medical Tourism Vision 2020 Commitment” on Tuesday at the 1st Quezon City Medical Tourism Stakeholders Summit.
The local government unit aims to participate in the world medical tourism market, which, according to a press release, is projected to be worth $143 billion (or over P7 trillion) by 2020.
“Quezon City is truly a medical and wellness destination. Some of the best hospitals in the country started in Quezon City, like St. Luke’s Medical Center, Capitol Medical Center, UERM (University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center), and even specialized hospitals like the Heart Center, Lung Center, Kidney Center, among others. A good number of new hospitals like the ones in Commonwealth and Mindanao Avenues serve as places to seek recovery and healing,” Bautista told an audience of local and national government officials, and stakeholders in the tourism, medical, and wellness industries.
Among the steps they committed to take to bring the vision to fruition were creating a technical working group which would lay out a direction for Quezon City to become a preferred medical tourism destination; coming up with a one-stop directory of hospitals, clinics, medical spas, fitness, and therapy centers; producing a medical tour package to be offered by travel agents; establishing a hotline for local and foreign clients; and introducing incentives for medical tourism stakeholders.
“Growth is phenomenal and the Philippines is poised to benefit because of our hospitality, skilled doctors, and ready facilities. Quezon City wants to be part of it and I want all of you to be part of this success story,” Bautista said.
The Department of Health already has a Philippine Medical Tourism Program, which aims to increase visitors from other countries seeking medical services, and to ensure that these services are on a par with global standards, both for foreign and local patients.