INNOVATORS
Reyvic Cerilles and Joseph Jagoring Estetico Manila
‘Pampering your clients and going the extra mile are musts in the business’ By Rafael Santos
T
Photos by Walter Villa
he Philippines is in an excellent position to get a big slice of the fast-growing medical tourism market because of its large pool of highly trained medical professionals. In the next five years, in fact, the Philippine government is targeting as much as $2 billion in income from medical tourism and from foreigners who have made the Philippines their retirement haven. Estetico Manila, a medium-sized clinic, is one of the medical establishments that have been benefiting from the growth of the country’s medical tourism. Put up only in 2005, it is run by two medical partners: Dr. Reyvic Cerilles, a cosmetic surgeon, and Dr. Joseph Jagoring, a dentist. Over the last two years, the partners have seen their clientele grow to 200 patients a month on the average, most of them seeking cosmetic surgery, dermatology, and cosmetic dentistry services. Of this clientele, 60 to 70 percent are foreigners and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The most sought-after services in Estetico Manila are rhinoplasty (nose jobs), breast enhancements, and dental implants. The clinic charges fees ranging from P60,000 to P80,000 for major surgical procedures, and as low as P1,000 for dental cleaning. The partners perform most of the simpler surgical procedures in the clinic itself, but do the more complicated surgical procedures in affiliated hospitals.
14 ENTREPRENEUR SPECIAL EDITION
the other hand, had invested about P500,000 to purchase an operating table and equip the clinic’s operating room. The partners in Estetico Manila share the responsibility for funding and running the enterprise. When they put up their clinic, Cerilles and Jagoring and their former business partner, Dr. Erick G. Ducut, each contributed P500,000 to a pool to pay for the clinic’s design and construction and for the lease of the clinic space. Dr. Cerilles and Dr. Jagoring both say that pampering your clients and going the extra mile are musts in the business. They say that they even go to the extent of picking up their foreign clients from the airport and bringing them to their hotels—in some cases even taking them out for dinner. They do all these to ensure a high rate of return business and more referrals from satisfied clients. n
n a c u Yo o do this,t o
D
Targeting foreigners seeking medical treatment could be lucrative, but it is also very challenging. Entrepreneurs who want to enter this industry need to invest in world-class medical equipment, which does not come cheap. In Jagoring’s case, his dental equipment had cost him around P1 million to P2 million, payable over a period of several years. Cerilles, on
Estetico Manila has benefited from the growth of the country’s medical tourism industry. The doctors see an average of 200 patients a month.
CONTACT DETAILS
rs. Reyvic Cerilles and Joseph Jagoring of Estetico Manila give the following suggestions to those intending to go into the medical tourism business: Define roles clearly. If the clinic is a partnership, the role of each partner must be clearly defined in writing, including specific responsibilities and size of investment. Invest in world-class medical equipment. They don’t come cheap, but they will be worth the trouble. Never
acquire inferior—and potentially dangerous– devices for the operating room. Pamper your clients. Targeting foreigners is a lucrative but challenging way to boost the business. Make sure, though, that they are satisfied and happy with your services at all times. Go the extra mile as much as possible. Do a great job all the time. This will not only boost your clinic’s chances of getting more clients but will also keep you from getting blacklisted in the medical profession.
ESTETICO MANILA Unit 501/502 Oakridge Plaza, 101 San Antonio St., Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City Telephone: (02) 854-4933 • Mobile: 0917-8104334 • Website: www.esteticomanila.com
67 SUCCESS STORIES 15