Meditour Pty Ltd is an Australian company with its directors being involved in assisting people with quality travel arrangements to enhance medical and dental treatments in the Philippines for over 6 years.
In 2003 “Dental Holidays” was launched providing people with a means to achieve overseas dental procedures with a minimum of fuss. Making sure the travel arrangements meet with procedural arrangements ensure everything runs smoothly. Since then we have arranged medical and dental procudure for over 500 happy people.
Meditour works closely with The Philippine Department of Tourism , The Philippine Department of Health, The Philippine Dental Association members and the Makati Tourism Foundation members who can put you in touch with the best dentists in the Philippines.
Meditour assist clients in making medical and dental treatment arrangements and all travel arrangements are handled by recommended licenced travel professionals.
HISTORY
All About Asia Pty Ltd, a travel wholesale company specialising in Philippine tourism, was formed in July 1991. During 2004 the company started receiving enquiries for dental treatments in the Philippines. People in Australia were starting to realise they could not only receive professional, high quality treatment, but receive the treatment at a fraction of what it cost in Australia.
All about Asia realised that this was the perfect way to get people to see a unique and wonderful tourist destination in South East Asia that always seemed to fall below the radar in Australia.
The first dentist approached to handle these “dental tourists” was recommended by staff at various embassies in Manila, including the Australian High Commission. It was then realised that it was important that the dentist should “pass” certain criteria to reassure the company that minimal problems would occur.
These were, in no particular order:
1. Must have a record of treating foreigners.
2. Must charge foreigners the same prices as locals.
3. Must have an excellent reputation for hygienic facilities, quality treatments and materials used.
4. Must have own laboratory in order that treatment could be performed in minimum time frame.
5. Must have high qualifications to international standards.
6. Must have highly presentable waiting and treatment rooms.
7. Must be located close to accommodation, shops and restaurants.
Mr Robert Graham, founder and owner of All About Asia Pty Ltd, formed Meditour Pty Ltd in December 2007. This was so he could separate travel and medical tourism in order to focus on the uniqueness and individual cores of each business model.
In early 2008, Meditour set about finding more highly regarded dental clinics. This was done with the help of a representative of the Philippine Dental Association who also became one of the Meditour approved dentists as well as the Chairman of the Philippine Dental Tourism Association.
THE PRESENT
With eight dental clinics in the Philippines now under the Meditour mantle, the company can offer many choices of clinics and locations. The clinics can offer quotes based on the amount of information provided by the patient. These usually include a brief description of perceived treatment, x-rays, photographs and quotations from an Australian dentist. Some patients opt to go without a quote because, based on recommendations from friends, they know they’re going to save money.
With its association with All About Asia, Meditour arranges a seamless “Dental Holiday” experience. The company offers the best “wholesale” airfares from most Australian capital cities to Manila and books safe, convenient and excellent value hotels. Patients are met in the Airport arrivals area and lent a local mobile phone. Private transfers are arranged to the hotel and their dentist meets them at their hotel prior to their first appointment. All transfers between clinic and hotel are included in the total “package”. Local tours and holiday packages can also be easily organised by the Manila office of All About Asia. The Manila staff is in constant contact with the patients to make sure things are running smoothly and up to expectations. Meditour Manila can also offer assistance for shopping and spa and beauty treatments.
This year Meditour has arranged holidays for over 100 people and 99% have praised not only the quality of their treatment but also the cost savings. Perhaps more importantly they have all commented on the friendliness of the people involved with Meditour and the Philippines in general.
THE FUTUREWith the Philippine model now running smoothly and expanding, Meditour has been approached by Government Health and Tourism bodies in Malaysia, who wish to take their Medical Tourism program to a new level and include Australian tourists.
Recently, General Manager of Meditour Pty Ltd, Mr Glenn Johns, and Managing Director of All About Asia Pty Ltd, Mr Robert Graham, were invited to attend a familiarisation tour of the medical facilities and dental clinics in Kuala Lumpur. Along with company representatives of medical tourism from twelve countries, they were the only two from Australia. Their reputation in Medical tourism to the Philippines is highly regarded.
They were both impressed by the high quality of the hospitals and clinics and the commitment of the Government departments that are involved in promoting this program. They are now in the process of signing agreements that will allow Meditour to offer more than one destination in South East Asia.
Thailand is definitely on the horizon with a current agreement in place with Phuket International Hospital.
Another possibility is to offer travel agencies throughout Australia an easy opportunity to get involved in Medical Tourism through a preferred agreement with Meditour. This will not only give Meditour more creditability in the eyes of potential medical tourists, it will also allow the company to present opportunities at agent’s conferences and meetings. Meditour will also work with agents and their data bases of clients to promote information evenings in their local areas, bringing along people that have already experienced the Meditour service.
Some health insurance companies in USA, UK and Europe are currently offering their members cheaper premiums on medical procedures as long as they are willing to undertake a trip to another country. In the future, this could well be considered by Australian companies and Meditour will be in the ideal position to assist.
