I regularly travel to the Philippines so I often avail of the cheap health care facilities in the country. The benefit of the Philippines is:
1. Cheap flights with discount airlines like Tiger Airways (Singapore), Air Asia X (Malaysia) and Cebu Pacific (Philippines). These airlines use either Manila or Clark airports in the Philippines. Air Asia X is currently expanding its destinations to Sydney and Korea, so watch these airlines.
2. Cheap accommodation in regional areas of just $US20, or $70 in central Manila, though door-to-door inquiries in Ermita will find you a place for $20/night.
3. English speaking
You can of course combine your dental and medical work with a holiday. I would suggest that you do not have to go to an expensive high-class, expensive hospital in the Philippines for test work. I found a cheap diagnostic lab in Lipa City, Batangas which does X-rays, blood tests, mamograms, etc. The turnaround is 8-24 hours, so you can hang out at Starbucks or McDonalds.
This makes sense if you travel to these places or you have dental or medical work which exceeds $US10,000. I have my teeth cleaned for about $6, though its going to be more if products are imported, or you go to classy establishments with foreign-educated doctors.
Some tips on using these services:
1. Doctors like to refer you to their mates, so they can each charge a P600 fee, and give you no advice at all. If you are rich, fine, you are helping these doctors serve the long queue of poor customers outside, as you as a foreigner are given centre-stage. Go straight to diagnostics if you know what you have.
2. Make use of any Filipino relationships you have established. If they have some family doctor, they can help you save money. The chances are that they are competent if your friend comes from a 'upper' middle class family.
Filipinos can be the worst and best people. Great friends to have if you find a good one. Some of you might be interested in retiring in the Philippines. If so check out my Philippine foreclosed property blog. On our last trip we went to Puerto Galera, which is not a bad place to retire. Many foreigners. At this point the tourist area facilities are under-capitalised, but a Robinsons shopping mall is currently under construction at Calapan.
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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com
1. Cheap flights with discount airlines like Tiger Airways (Singapore), Air Asia X (Malaysia) and Cebu Pacific (Philippines). These airlines use either Manila or Clark airports in the Philippines. Air Asia X is currently expanding its destinations to Sydney and Korea, so watch these airlines.
2. Cheap accommodation in regional areas of just $US20, or $70 in central Manila, though door-to-door inquiries in Ermita will find you a place for $20/night.
3. English speaking
You can of course combine your dental and medical work with a holiday. I would suggest that you do not have to go to an expensive high-class, expensive hospital in the Philippines for test work. I found a cheap diagnostic lab in Lipa City, Batangas which does X-rays, blood tests, mamograms, etc. The turnaround is 8-24 hours, so you can hang out at Starbucks or McDonalds.
This makes sense if you travel to these places or you have dental or medical work which exceeds $US10,000. I have my teeth cleaned for about $6, though its going to be more if products are imported, or you go to classy establishments with foreign-educated doctors.
Some tips on using these services:
1. Doctors like to refer you to their mates, so they can each charge a P600 fee, and give you no advice at all. If you are rich, fine, you are helping these doctors serve the long queue of poor customers outside, as you as a foreigner are given centre-stage. Go straight to diagnostics if you know what you have.
2. Make use of any Filipino relationships you have established. If they have some family doctor, they can help you save money. The chances are that they are competent if your friend comes from a 'upper' middle class family.
Filipinos can be the worst and best people. Great friends to have if you find a good one. Some of you might be interested in retiring in the Philippines. If so check out my Philippine foreclosed property blog. On our last trip we went to Puerto Galera, which is not a bad place to retire. Many foreigners. At this point the tourist area facilities are under-capitalised, but a Robinsons shopping mall is currently under construction at Calapan.
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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com
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