Tourism official touts PH medical tourism at DC reception

Philippine Department of Tourism Director for Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism Cynthia C. Lazo, briefed the 2016 delegates of the World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress (WMTC), on the key aspects of the Philippine medical tourism program at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on September 27. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, DC – A tourism official plugged the Philippines’ medical tourism program as some 40 delegates to a world global healthcare gathering here visited the Philippine Embassy on Sept. 27.

Cynthia C. Lazo, director for Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism of the Department of Tourism, gave a brief presentation on the key features of the Philippine medical tourism program, including the country’s advantages of modern facilities, facility in the English language, good infrastructure, proximity to most of Asia’s major cities, and the ability of “a caring local community to help in total healing in body, mind and spirit.”

Lazo’s presentation was followed by a personal testimonial from an American who is actively facilitating medical tourism in the Philippines.

“It is time to put the Philippines on the map of medical tourism. It has some of the best medical facilities in the world with top-rated doctors. I avail of general health screening in the country regularly,” said Seidric Tapscott, founder of Tapscott Health.

Traditional merienda (snack) of rice cakes (puto), noodles (pancit canton), and bananas (turon) prepared by the Philippine Embassy for the 2016 WMTC delegates. CONTRIBUTED

“The Philippines is globally positioning itself as the heart of Asia, combining modern technology with Philippine culture and tradition, highlighting the warmth of the Filipino people. We offer a brand of service that is distinctly Filipino,” Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto, chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy, told some 40 delegates to the 2016 World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress (WMTC) at a reception at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy. The visit was part of the WMTC’s Embassy Tours.

Some of the 2016 delegates of the World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress (WMTC) with Director Cynthia C. Lazo (front, second from right) during their visit at the Philippine Embassy as part of WMTC’s Embassy Tours. CONTRIBUTED

Omar Shalabi, from Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Company and a speaker at the WMTC praised the expertise and work ethic of Filipino nurses and other allied professionals.

The Embassy Tour included pre-selected government officials, doctors, corporate executives, travel agents, representatives from major hospitals and investors. In order to completely showcase the country’s culture, tourism, business development and medical tourism, the Embassy also prepared a traditional merienda (snack) for the delegation that highlighted Filipino hospitality and featured the country’s affinity for rice (puto), noodles (pancit canton), bananas (turon), and coconut (coconut water).

The briefing was organized with the support of the Philippine Departments of Tourism, Health and Trade, and the Philippine Tourism Office in New York.