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Medical Transcription

MTIAPI expects e-Services confab to increase interest in the local medical transcription profession

(Manila, Philippines, February 16, 2006) - The annual e-Services Philippines (ESP) conference and exhibition has been instrumental in boosting local awareness of the medical transcription (MT) industry according to Evelyn Abat, president of the Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines, Inc. (MTIAPI). "In this year's expo, we expect to further increase interest in the industry, not only among investors but also to potential industry practitioners, who are very important to sustain the industry's phenomenal growth."

MTIAPI will co-develop the data transcription track of the e-Services' business conference on February 17, 2006. The track will feature U.S.-based industry experts like the Medical Transcription Industy of America's (MTIA) president, Sean Carroll, and Dr. Peter Presiozi, executive director of the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT), who will discuss various concerns of the Philippine MT Industry.

MTIA, the vendor centric association, will discuss outsourcing opportunities for the Philippines in medical transcription and how the Philippines can better compete in the global market. AAMT, the profession centric International organization will inform the participants on the latest updates on training and certification as well as expound on the career ladder for the medical transcription profession. Abat said the main thrust of the track is to raise awareness among local trade visitors and encourage them to look into medical transcription as a business or career. It also aims to enhance the capability and marketing potential of our current medical transcription industry players.

MTIAPI reports that there are currently 35 medical transcription companies operating in the Philippines, and 11 medical transcription schools who are members of the nationwide industry association.

"Based on the data obtained from the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, medical transcription is the fastest-growing sector in the local outsourcing industry," Abat said. But while continued growth in the local medical transcription industry appears to be assured, growth is dependent on the availability of medical transcription professionals that companies can hire to support expansion.

"The U.S. market for medical transcription is a $25-billion market. So far, we have only tapped 1 percent of the U.S. market alone," Abat said. "If we want to get a bigger share of U.S. business, and then move up the global market, we need to produce more industry-ready medical transcription graduates every year."

According to Abat, ESP has been instrumental in boosting local awareness of the industry and its manpower requirements. This year, the association expects their collaboration with CITEM to result in increased interest among investors, graduates of allied medical courses, and schools that can include medical transcription in their curricula. "We are positive that this will translate into a significant increase in our manpower base," Abat concluded.
In all its activities including ESP, MTIAPI enjoys the support of Pearl2 (Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkages Phase II), an initiative that promotes the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines by creating meaningful jobs. Pearl2 is managed by Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd., a private-sector firm based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, involved in development projects worldwide.
Dubbed as Asia's premiere IT and outsourcing show, ESP, now in its sixth year, is leveraging the support of other outsourcing industry associations including the Business Process Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Software Industry Association, the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, and the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., to present the much-anticipated conference and exhibition.

"Because of the overwhelming support from all six sectors of the IT and IT-enabled services industry, we expect this year's ESP confab to be a show of industry force," said Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes, assistant secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). An attached agency of the DTI tasked with export promotion, CITEM is the organizer of the annual ESP confab.

ESP 2006 is scheduled on February 16 to 17, 2006, at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel. For information, contact 831-2201 locals 212 and 251, 832-5044; fax 832-3965 or 834-0177; or email itservices@citem.com.ph.

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