Chicago—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) underscored the Philippines’ increasing prominence in the healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) sector during a hybrid seminar and livestream at the Consulate’s Kalayaan Hall on May 13. 

The seminar, titled “Bridging Filipino-American Businesses and the Philippine Healthcare BPO,” was a strategic collaboration between the DTI’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York (PTIC New York) and the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago. The event convened over 45 participants, including Filipino-American owners and managers of US-based home health agencies.

This initiative directly supports the DTI-PTIC New York’s core mission of positioning the country as a competitive and reliable hub for high-value business process outsourcing services. Furthermore, it actively fostered commercial linkages between US-based businesses, particularly those owned by the Filipino-American community, and Philippine service providers.

Opening the seminar, DTI-PTIC New York’s Trade Commissioner Benedict M. Uy charted the Philippine information technology-BPO industry’s evolution, from traditional voice services to advanced knowledge process outsourcing (KPO). These KPO offerings now encompass sectors such as finance and accounting, software development, legal services, 3D animation, and healthcare information management.

Commissioner Uy underscored the Philippine government’s commitment to fostering a world-class BPO environment. He cited the Data Privacy Act, which ensures global standard compliance, and the CREATE MORE Law, offering strategic fiscal incentives to attract and sustain investment.

Trade Commissioner Uy further emphasized the growing relevance of Philippine Healthcare Information Management Services (HIMS) for the US market. He noted that these services help streamline operations, maintain compliance, and improve service delivery—all while benefiting from cost-effective outsourcing solutions.

He shared that the Philippine information technology and business process management sector currently generates approximately USD 38 billion annually and employs 1.8 million Filipinos.

Notably, the HIMS is the fastest-growing segment, currently valued at over USD 4 billion with a 9% annual growth rate and supported by more than 400 specialized firms.

Additionally, Commissioner Uy highlighted the industry’s dynamism, citing his recent participation in the 2025 HIMSS Global Health Conference in Las Vegas, where Filipino exhibitors secured USD 79 million in deals.

The seminar was further enriched by the expertise of guest speaker Mr. John Duenas, a certified healthcare BPO practitioner and former Executive Director of the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines. He provided an in-depth overview of the country’s HIMS sub-sector and the sector’s ability to resolve operational pain points in US healthcare businesses such as billing documentation, regulatory compliance, and cost efficiency.

The event concluded with an interactive open forum where participants raised questions on financial savings, payment schemes, taxation, and liability insurance—signaling a strong interest in the Philippines’ growing potential as a healthcare BPO destination. ♦

Date of Release: 20 May 2025

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