South Korea's Hospitals Step Up Going Global, Riding the 'Medical Hallyu' Wave

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- With a growing number of foreign patients visiting the medical facilities in South Korea, hospitals in South Korea with help of the government are stepping up globalization to capitalize on the 'Medical Hallyu,' the Korean wave of healthcare in the medical industry. More than 80,000 foreign patients came to South Korea for healthcare services in 2010 and it is estimated that the number of foreign patients to South Korea will reach 130,000 in 2011, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHID) said.

The government is also supporting the globalization of Korean medical institutions under the banner of the "Medical Korea," the brand campaign to promote South Korea's advanced medical services abroad. In order to guarantee the quality of the medical service and strengthen foreign patients' trust towards it, the government has adopted a registry system for Korean medical institutions and facilitators to manage quality of global healthcare business. As of end of August 2011, the number of registered medical institutions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare was 2,016, a 16.1 percent rise from the same month last year.

The government has also accelerated its support for foreign patients' convenience and safety by issuing medical treatment visas, operating an around-the-clock medical call center and one-stop medical tourism service centers, establishing an arbitration body for medical disputes and nurturing medical coordinators and interpreters.

Medical institutions also step up globalization to attract foreign patients. A growing number of medical institutions have been gaining accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), the worldwide leader in improving the quality of health care. A total of 22 hospitals, including Severance Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital and Ewha Womans University Medical Center, were accredited as of September 2011. Also, 58 medical institutions have established overseas branches in 11 countries to promote the advanced technology and services offered by South Korea.

"We will cement the 'Medical Korea' reputation now enjoyed by the nation and expand the support for foreign patients' safety and convenience during their experience in South Korea," said Ko Kyung-hwa, president of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

For more information, please contact Yang Ji-young of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute's Global Healthcare Business Department on [email protected].

SOURCE Korea Health Industry Development Institute