PH needs to invest in medical facilities to gain medical tourism foothold
CEBU CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) — The Philippines, particularly Cebu, needs to invest and improve its medical facilities to gain a strong foothold in becoming a medical tourism site, medical practitioners said.
Dr. Mario Victor Villardo, an interventional cardiologist of the Philippine Heart Center and Capitol Medical Center, noted that the country’s promotion of medical tourism is both a government and private-led initiative.
But, he said hospitals in the country should continue on investing and upgrading their medical facilities.
He said improving facilities and bringing in new technologies would surely lure more tourists to come to the country for medication.
He said the country has big potential to become a preferred medical site over other countries like Thailand.
He said hospitals in Manila have already earned international accreditation while others are still in the process of application.
In Cebu, only Chong Hua Hospital has gotten an international accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), an international agency that sets international standards and evaluates facilities based on the quality and safety of patient care.
Dr. Michael Jeremy Tabaloc said they are hoping that more hospitals in Cebu will have international accreditation because this would help Cebu gain a strong foothold in its promotion as a medical and vacation destination.
Dr. Tabaloc is an interventional cardiologist of Cebu-based hospitals Chong Hua Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, a state-run hospital.
Villardo and Tabaloc recently gave a briefing on coronary angioplasty, a technique used to open clogged arteries of the heart.
Tabaloc said that the procedure that usually involves a balloon catheter and stent coil being inserted into the artery has now improved involving drug-eluting stents that release medication that prevents artery from re-clogging.
Tabaloc said the procedure, which is non-invasive and non-surgical, has typically a lower cost than bypass surgery and with no recuperation period.
Tabaloc said angioplasty treatments are already being performed in Chong Hua Hospital, Perpetual Soccour Hospital and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Richard Wong of B. Braun Medical Supplies said the breakthrough technology is designed to provide alternative options for those suffering with heart problems. (PNA)
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