DOT director for Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism, Roberto Alabado, said an inter-agency committee comprised of DOT, the Departments of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Board of Investments has opened discussions on the granting of medical visas to foreigners.
The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) wants the government to offer a six-month medical visa to help promote the Philippines as a medical travel and wellness destination.
DOT director for Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism, Roberto Alabado, said an inter-agency committee comprised of DOT, the Departments of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Board of Investments has opened discussions on the granting of medical visas to foreigners.
A medical visa may be issued to tourists whose main purpose for travel to the Philippines is to seek medical treatment and medical surgery, Alabado said.
Alabado explained that the Philippines shows great potential for medical tourism because of the number of hospitals with modern medical facilities and highly skilled human resources in the medical field.
Several cities and provinces in the Philippines are expected to benefit from an increase in wellness and medical tourism.
Davao City, for instance, has been tipped to take advantage of this promotion. The local government is pushing to develop the city’s potential by building more specialised medical facilities like cancer centres and retirement villages.
“The city provides incentives for these types of investments. Health and wellness facilities include hospitals, research and development facilities and retirement villages as preferred investment sub-activities,” Davao City Investment Promotions Centre head, Lemuel Ortonio said.