OFWs tapped as Philippine medical tourism envoys

By MALOU M. MOZO

September 28, 2009, 8:31pm

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC), a group of players in the local health and wellness industry, is set to capitalize on the country’s growing overseas Filipino workers, or balikbayans, targeting them as envoys to promote the sector in the international market.

Nelia Navarro, Provincial Director of the Department of Tourism-Cebu, said that as Cebu positions itself as a premier health and wellness destination in Asia, combining both leisure and business in one place, local industry stakeholders are bent on luring foreign patients through testimonies and first-hand experiences of balikbayans availing of local medical and wellness services.

The Department of Tourism-Cebu is one of CHWC’s member government agencies.

“Our first target is to attract all Filipinos around the world to avail of the best health and wellness services we have here,” said Navarro. “Eventually, they will become our ambassadors for the sector.”

According to Navarro, the influx of foreign patients considering the Philippines as an alternative destination for affordable health and wellness services is possible if these international Filipino communities with foreign friends are able to share by word-of-mouth their personal experiences in trying out local health and wellness therapies, the qualities of which are fast gaining a positive reputation globally.

At present, she said, CHWC member-organizations including leading hospitals in Metro Cebu, dental organizations, spa and wellness players, among others, are conducting talks with several Filipino communities abroad “who can help bring in Filipino patients.”

Navarro stressed that Cebu medical institutions as well as wellness facilities are ready to accommodate more sophisticated markets, including Americans and Europeans, seeking medical services and wellness vacation packages.

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