13-Oct-16 The Philippines is short of 15,000 doctors to be able to adequately meet the health needs of Filipinos. It currently has one doctor for every 33,000 persons. The Health Secretary said there is a lack of volunteers willing to go to rural areas. The Doctors to the Barrios program can accommodate 398 doctors. However, 116 posts remain vacant. [image: CNN Philippines]

09-Oct-16 The Manila-based Medical City hospital group is boosting its presence in the UAE, to promote medical tourism to the Philippines. It opened a AED10 mn polyclinic in Dubai in October 2015. It will be followed by more clinics in the city and the Northern Emirates in 2017, mostly through acquisitions. [image: The National]

29-Sep-16 The Philippines is poised to take advantage of the global medical tourism market, positioning itself as a provider of excellent and affordable hospital care. The country’s advantages include modern facilities, fluency in English, good infrastructure, proximity to Asia’s major cities, “and the ability of a caring local community to help in total healing in body, mind and spirit.” [image: Department of Tourism, Philippines]

05-Sep-16 The Philippines Department of Health Secretary Paulyn Rosell-Ubial has said it is focused on fast-tracking the development of health infrastructure. Ubial said the government envisioned one doctor per five barangays (districts) and one health station per barangay within the six-year term of President Duterte in line with the government’s pronouncement of implementing a human approach in improving the people’s welfare. [image: Alamy]

01-Sep-16 The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) has expressed interest in emulating the ratio of doctor/healthworkers to population in Cuba. DOH Secretary Dr Ubial said it would be a big help if the Philippines could achieve the ratio of 1:1,075, or even 1:12,000. At present the ratio is 1:33,000. [image: Kaya Responsible Travel]