Egg Freezing & IVF in the Philippines

The Philippines is making itself known in medical tourism as a country that exudes hospitality and cheerfulness. This amiability makes it easy for medical travellers to have their rigorous treatments done under a relaxed atmosphere. Filipino healing traditions have blended with modern Western medical practices due to the country's historic connection with the United States.

The best thing about the Philippines is its commitment to making patients feel at home right from the initial visit up to post-procedure recovery set in a tropical paradise. Other factors make the Philippines a good choice. Facilities that cater to medical travellers often arrange transportation services and hotel accommodations. Asian Hospital and Medical Centre in Muntinlupa City has a dedicated International Health Centre that provides support and guidance for foreign patients while they stay in the hospital. Among the most in-demand medical procedures in the country are dental implants, breast augmentation, and Lasik eye surgery.

Its reputation for avant-garde sterilization methods and dedication to making sure the staff is well-trained makes it a global player in the medical tourism industry. The local regulatory boards that govern healthcare standards are the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The medical visa duration is typically 60 days but it can be extended if there is a need for it. Renowned hospitals are found in Manila and Cebu such as the Makati Medical Centre and Cebu Doctors' University Hospital.

The Philippines is home to the famous coves and lagoons of El Nido and Coron in Palawan. The island consistently makes it to prestigious travel magazines' annual best destinations lists. It was called the most beautiful island in the world by Conde Nast Traveler in 2016 and the world's best island by Travel + Leisure in 2019.

Watch the sunset where the skies turn from pink to red on the white sand beach of Boracay. It was listed as one of the "Favourite Islands in the World" by Travel + Leisure this 2023. Time Magazine included it among the "World's Greatest Places" in 2022. It was also named the Top Island In Asia for 2022 by Conde Nast Traveler.

The Chocolate Hills in Bohol is another breathtaking location. Go to the 1,000+ hills from January to May to see them in chocolate brown and watch them turn green during the rainy months.

It may be tempting to sample Philippine street food like kwek-kwek, fishballs, and isaw, but stay cautious and try to buy from clean stalls and kiosks found inside malls instead to avoid food poisoning.

International and local flights at the airport are constantly delayed due to bad weather or air traffic so provide ample time between connecting flights to avoid delay-caused stress. Monitor the weather because frequent typhoons cause floods, landslides, and heavy traffic that can spoil your itinerary. Do not venture into Sulu and Marawi City in Mindanao because these are known areas of civil unrest, terrorism, and kidnapping.

To get around the country, the most ubiquitous public transportation is the colourful jeepneys. Owners and drivers customise the body of their jeepneys with personal slogans like "Bawal ang pasaway," which translates to "Stubborn people are not allowed" or "Basta driver, sweet lover," which denotes that drivers are great lovers. The masses take the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) while the middle class usually ride taxis, Point-to-Point (P2P) buses, or use the Grab ride-share service app.

Treatments using assisted reproductive technology remain a political and moral issue

The Reproductive Health Law was passed in 2012 but the Supreme Court suspended its implementation a year later after succumbing to pressure from religious groups. In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte revived the move to implement the RH Law in an executive order that mandates universal access to modern family planning tools. A day after the signing, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle stressed the Church's opposition to "any law that promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods." The Church has long been involved in Filipino politics as 80% of the population is Catholic.

For a religious country that has delayed reproductive health laws, the Philippine fertility rate remains high in 2023 at 2.454 births per woman. Filipinos who live in poverty are mostly the ones who account for the elevated number of population growth.

Filipino is the primary language which is a modern version of Tagalog. English is also recognised as an official language. According to the Philippine Constitution of 1987, Spanish is an “optional and voluntary language.”