RP at par with other countries in terms of medical services

Those in need of immediate medical attention need not to travel to other countries for treatment.

According to the Philippine College of Surgeons president Ed Gatchalian, the country can now compete with its neighboring countries in terms of medical services and facilities.

In a press conference yesterday during the midyear medical convention, Gatchalian said that the country is already at par with other countries in terms of health care services and medical facilities.

Even Cebu has already acquired state-of-the-art medical facilities that could deliver the same services in other countries, not only in the field of surgery and but also in other medical services.

"There are major hospitals in Cebu that can perform well and have skilled doctors which is why there is no need for some to travel in Manila or abroad for treatment," Gatchalian said.

He added that doctors in the country have the edge compared to those in other countries because they could perform the old and modern type of surgery. "We have all the specialists in the country who are capable of doing these procedures at a much cheaper price."

With medical tourism as the emerging niche' in the global market, Gatchalian sees the need of the government to support the medical services in order to boost the medical tourism in the country.

Meanwhile, Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists chairman Theresa Alcantara said that they are now seeking solutions on the continued exodus of doctors who took nursing courses for employment abroad.

"We have tapped different committees to take care of that, we disperse some of our medical professionals to barrios and provinces where there are no doctors which is why we have specialists and doctors to the barrios. We are doing this to entice them to stay in the country," she said.

More than a thousand surgeons, urologists and anesthesiologists gathered at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino to attend the two-day midyear conference of the Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of Anesthesiology and the Philippine Urology Association.

The conference discusses the common issues affecting the medical authorities as well as ways to foster harmonious relationship among them. - Jasmin R. Uy