Further training needed to boost MT workforce in RP--exec

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:43:00 05/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines --Medical transcription firms will need to undertake further training to help increase the number of workers as overseas demand continues to rise.

The Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines Inc. (MTIAPI) said it will provide training in various healthcare functions like medical records processing, medical coding, and medical billing.

MTIAPI's goal is to at least triple the industry's workforce to 32,000 people by 2010. The group comprises 80 medical transcription or MT firms although most of these have only between 15 and 50 seats.

"Until a critical capacity [of workers] is established, the country will have a hard time attracting interests from big US clients," said MTIAPI president Myla Mundo-Reyes.

"Our role will be mainly third party subcontractors," she stressed, adding that local MT firms have lost a number of lucrative contracts due lack of capacity.

Based on MTIAPI's estimates, the total offshore MT market is valued at $18 billion but the Philippines corners only one percent of the market behind outsourcing giant India.

The US remains the largest market although there are opportunities in Australia, Europe, and Canada, according to Reyes, also president of local firm Total Transcription Solutions.

She added MTIAPI will conduct a campaign to educate member companies on compliance with the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which is critical to getting offshore clients.

MTIAPI is also planning to send a delegation to two separate industry conferences in California and Seattle this year, including networking opportunities between local MT companies and Filipino-American medical associations.