In order  to compete with neighbors in the retirement and wellness market, the Philippines should provide long-stay visas, set up retirement communities and improve the quality of health care, according to speakers at the 3rd Philippine Retirement and Healthcare Summit.

“Retirees want to test living in the Philippines and the best way to do that is to give long-stay visas that allow visitors to stay in the country for at least six months,” said Henry J. Schumacher, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) external vice-president and chairman of the Retirement and Healthcare Coalition (RHC), during the summit held yesterday in Makati City.

He added that the RHC -- formed by the European, American, Japanese and Korean chambers of commerce in 2007 to promote the Philippines as a retirement and health care destination -- has talked with the Foreign Affairs and Tourism departments and the Bureau of Immigration regarding the long-stay visas.

Tourists to the Philippines need to get visas if they are staying here for more than 21 days. The visas are valid up to the 30th day only, however.

Tourism Undersecretary Daniel G. Corpuz said during a panel discussion during the summit that the government is considering a longer period of stay of up to 90 days.

Mr. Schumacher said the visas should allow multiple entries and should be subject to renewal to attract a large number of retirees to the country.

The Philippines should also consider putting up retirement communities that offer activities specifically targeted at retirees, improving geriatric care and becoming more transparent with costs involved in health care, Mr. Schumacher added.

“The Philippines needs to look into getting in the right products that would increase life expectancy,” added Janice Chia, founder and managing director of Ageing Asia Pte. Ltd.

Wai Chong Loke of KPMG Singapore also noted that countries wishing to offer medical tourism need to understand limitations due to non-standardization of medical records, malpractice liability and non-portability of health insurance.

Ms. Chia said the Asia-Pacific “silver” or retiree market is expected to reach $3 trillion in 2017 while the Philippine market will reach $6 billion in the same period, up 100% from 2012.

The top medical tourism destinations in the Asia-Pacific are Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

The Philippines is currently the 15th most desired retirement and wellness destination, according to results of a survey done by International Living Magazine that were released in December last year.

To establish the Philippines as a retirement, wellness and medical tourism destination, Mr. Corpuz said the government is in the process of crafting a “Retirement Roadmap.”

“The roadmap is expected to be finished by 2014. Part of the roadmap is a promotions strategy to countries with a large number of Filipinos like the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom,” said Mr. Corpuz.

He added that the roadmap is being prepared by the Health, Trade and Tourism departments.

All the speakers noted the Philippines has a strong competitive advantage in its health care workers, who work all over the world. -- Emilia Narni J. David

Source: Business World; Economy; 24 April 2013