Foreign Doctors Come to South Korea for Training

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Foreign physicians are visiting South Korea to learn the Korean medical technologies first hand. There is also an increase in invitations for Korean physicians to give lectures at foreign institutions.

World-Class Stomach Cancer survival rates

Dr. Sam Yun of Harvard University, expert in stomach cancer operations, chose South Korea to treat his mother's stomach cancer. The Seoul National University Hospital, which successfully operated on Dr. Yun's mother, had provided the highest number of stomach cancer operations in the world, recording at 9 million operations with the fatality rate 0.6% lower than EU's 10%.

In recent years, nearly a thousand foreign doctors have come to learn its technologies.

Unparalleled Organ Transplantation

One of the world famous medical technologies in South Korea is organ transplantation. In 1999, Asan Medical Center raised the success rate for liver transplantation to 95%. In 2000, it was first to succeed in transplanting parts of the liver from two donors into one patient. They even succeeded in transplanting from a donor with a different blood type. It holds the world record with 3,500 organ transplant operations.

More than 100 organ transplant specialists visit annually to learn its organ transplantation.

World Leader in Lung Cancer Surgeries 

South Korea boasts advanced medical technologies in lung cancer surgeries. In 2010, Samsung Medical Center recorded the world's highest post-operative survival rate at 82%. The survival rate for third stage lung cancer was at 18%, nearly doubling the international average. The Center performed over 5,000 lung cancer surgeries in the past 18 years and in recent years, 58% of the operations were conducted through endoscope.

To better understand these surgeries, over 45 foreign specialists have visited the Center for the past three years.

Advanced Robotic Surgery with Superb Dexterity

Korean physicians are boasting superb dexterity by conducting operations without damaging the micro blood. Severance Hospital implemented the robotic surgeries in 2007 and until now, has performed approximately 7,000 operations. After being designated as an official robotic surgery educational center in Asia in 2008, 400 foreign physicians from 25 countries have come to learn its robotic surgeries.

Notes to editors:

Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) is a government organization that systematically conducts projects to foster and develop South Korea's health industry and health care.

For more information, please contact:

Yang Ji-young
Korea Health Industry Development Institute
Global Healthcare Business Department
+82-43-713-8248
[email protected]

SOURCE Korea Health Industry Development Institute