Medical Tourism in South Korea

Modern Technology with most recent medicalquality workers and advanced technology, South
equipments, top rated world class physicians, uniqueKorea has the potential to become a leading medical
caring and deep sympathy for patients and lowerhub, according to the Korea International Trade
costing for medical treatments are some of theAssociation.
things which tend people to choose South Korea asDefinately many people need plastic and cosmetic
their medical tourism destination. Some of the world'ssurgical operations for various body parts and such
best hospitals and stand alone specialty clinics arepatients are growing in number day by day. South
located in South Korea. One can easily feel theKorea has been able to establish itself as a major
warmth of the hospitality in the form of timely carecenter for cosmetic and plastic surgery. In fact,
from expert nurses and doctors, instant facilities forSouth Korea is considered the world’s capital for
all emergency cases without waiting too long andplastic surgery. Skin care and plastic surgery, has
state-of-the-art facilities in South Korea. There isseen a sharp increase in the number of overseas
additional benefit when you choose South Korea ascustomers. South Korea has also become a major
your medical tourism place because once yourdestination for those seeking stem cell transplant.
treatment is over and you need relaxation for fewThis is a process used in cancer treatment. South
more days, you can find some of the world's bestKorean scientists have made numerous
spa retreat resorts and travel and tour destinations inbreakthroughs in the stem cell process. They have
South Korea.developed a more efficient procedure of creating
You may face language problem when you visitclone embryos from patients who wish to have a
some other countries. But in South Korea there is nostem cell transplant. The government has also
such problem as there are language translatorslaunched the Korea Medical Service Promotion
available at all prominent places where tourists arriveAgency to make foreigners more aware of the
from foreign countries. Also there is no lack ofcountry’s low-cost, high quality medical care and
accommodations and you can always find plusto attract more medical tourists. In 2005, about
accommodations and other other amenities without10,000 medical tourists sought treatment in South
any delays and waiting in queue. For overseasKorea. The government hopes to increase this
promotion of Korean medicine and health care, thenumber to 15,000 by 2007.
country launched a council and thus putting its firstThe average charge for an in-patient visit in a US
step into medical tourism lucrative market. Thishospital is $3,762, which is 13 times higher than in
organization gets its finance by the Government andSouth Korea. The average charge foroutpatients in
28 private hospitals. They are working hard on thethe US is $13,000 which is 9 times higher than in
project to promote medical packages to foreignSouth Korea. South Korea's affordable health care
patients seeking affordable health care. The Councilsystem has seen the number of foreign patients rise
has purposed and started a set of measures tofrom 10,000 to 13,000 in just 2 years. With all these
promote the medical vacation tourism industry byadded measures in place, South Korea is on its way
aiding hospitals in their marketing plan strategies. Theto claim its share in the prosperous medical tourism
government has initiated measures to promoteand vacation business. However, All people wishing to
medical tourism, such as easing the visa process forenter the Republic of South Korea must have a valid
foreign patients. In this way, South Korea canvisa and passport. So one must take care of that
generate greater overseas awareness of thebefore deciding to choose South Korea as their
country's medical and tourism offerings. With highmedical tourism destination.