Medical Tourism in the Philippines - Philippine Institute for ...

c. Epidemiologically, the disease burden of the entire world has dramatically shifted to noncommunicableand chronic diseases, necessitating greater hospitalization.d. Technologically, some procedures that in the past can only be done in OECD countries are nowavailable in emerging economies as well, of comparable quality but at a lower cost, even addingthe cost of travel.e. Communication media, especially the Internet, has empowered citizens all over the world thatthey are now taking matters into their own hands, looking for health providers with lower costsand traveling there if need be.f. Transport costs have made it affordable for many people to travel for holiday or forhomecoming or for health care and wellness, and increasingly for combined purposes.The Philippines trails Thailand, Singapore, India and Malaysia among Asian countries involved inmedical tourism (see figure below). Taiwan, South Korea, and China are also poised to grab a largershare of the market in the near future.Top 15 Destinations of Medical Tourists, 2010ThailandSingaporeU.S.A.IndiaMalaysiaHungaryPolandSloveniaJordanU.K.PhilippinesGermanySouth KoreaTaiwanBelgium400,000370,000350,000330,000300,000300,000210,000100,00080,00070,00060,00060,00060,000600,0001,200,0000 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000Source: Youngman (2010)viii