Rudy Rupak, Founder-President of PlanetHospital,
Pioneer in Medical Outsourcing, To Visit Manila Nov. 18-25
The prospects of the Philippines as a medical tourism/outsourcing destination and services provider, will receive a boost when Rudy Rupak, founder and president of PlanetHospital, South California, U.S.A., visits Manila Nov. 18-25 to look more closely into the country's capabilities as a healthcare destination.

Rupak will visit the country's leading hospitals and meet with tour operators, owners of spas and wellness clinics as well as officials of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the Department of Tourism, the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, which - together with the private sector - are spearheading moves to promote the Philippines as a medical tourism destination.

PlanetHospital, pioneer in medical services outsourcing, provides "the best and safest hospitals and surgeons around the world" and brings patients in the U.S. to countries where affordable and quality medical care are available. PlanetHospital patients avail of insurance programs, which charge a small monthly premium that enables them to receive medical care, including surgery, abroad.

Its "Best of Both Worlds Healthcare" plan allows clients to have an American doctor fly with their patients to foreign destinations for the kind of surgery and treatment that they need at a cost they can afford.

Mr. Rupak is one of the first major overseas prospects who have expressed strong interest in the Philippines. He is particularly interested in our hospitals' capabilities in kidney transplants.

"Other big healthcare and tour packagers in the U.S and other countries are scheduled to visit the country soon precisely to look into specific opportunities that they can avail of to bring in their customers to the Philippines," Cynthia L. Carrion, DOT Assistant Secretary, Sports & Wellness Tourism, said. "Medical tourism will boom into a multi-trillion-dollar business worldwide in the next few years," Ms. Carrion added.

At present, PlanetHospital has 14 international destinations, including India, Singapore and Thailand.

Rupak established PlanetHospital in 2002, after his fiancé got ill during a visit to Bangkok and was highly impressed at the high quality of the service and care, and the low cost--only U.S.$411-- that she got at a local hospital.

PlanetHospital's Philippine initiative is a direct result of the Philippine Hospital Cluster Mission, headed by Ruy Moreno, deputy co-chair, private sector, NCC, that visited the U.S. earlier this year to gauge the interest of hospitals, HMOs and Fil-American organizations in availing of medical tourism providers in the Philippines.

The NCC and the DOT have been organizing public consultations with major hospitals, tour operators, and owners and managers of spa and wellness clinics to position these industries for what is hoped to be a gradual influx of medical tourists to the country.

NCC Private Sector Co-Chair Cesar B. Bautista, former DTI Secretary, said that Mr. Rupak's visit "will consolidate the initial gains that we have made in offering our competitive advantage in medical tourism facilities and services."

The Philippine medical community boasts of proven competence, availability of international- level facilities and equipment, as shown by Philippine hospitals receiving JCI accreditation, and successful experience in major procedures including hip surgery and heart bypass as well as lower cost of these and other procedures in local hospitals.

Increasing numbers of patients in the U.S. including Filipino immigrants, find themselves unable to avail of superior medical care and services, due chiefly to high costs. Philippine hospitals and medical practitioners, supported by ancillary services, are now regarded as a prime asset in attracting medical tourists and even retirees from the U.S., Japan and other countries.