A state-run qualification test system will be adopted for medical tour coordinators who provide foreign patients with general information on treatment and hospital systems. The ministry will also allow more Korean-speaking foreigners to work as coordinators by easing regulations, but they will also have to take the qualification test.
Hospitals that attract people through unregistered medical tourism agencies will be banned from accepting foreign patients for two years, says the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The ministry is revising medical regulations to toughen punishments on hospitals that have deals with unregistered agencies in medical services for foreigners.
The measure follows a growing number of complaints from medical tourists, especially Chinese, who go to Korea to receive medical treatment through unregistered middlemen. Under current regulations, only registered medical tourism agencies can attract foreign clients.
A ministry official explains, “In many such cases, middlemen overcharge patients, luring them with exaggerated ads. They also tell hospitals that they will attract foreign patients and demand 30 to 70% of the medical fees as commission. Some hospitals in financial difficulties or newly opened clinics accept such offers, and the quality of the treatment is not guaranteed. We are taking countermeasures because treatment through illegal brokerages may make foreigners lose trust in Korea’s medical services, consequently dealing a serious blow to Korea’s medical tourism.”
For offending hospitals, the government will cancel their license to attract foreign patients even through registered agencies. They will also be banned from obtaining the license for two years afterwards. Hospitals are required to obtain a license if they want to attract foreign patients through agencies. They do not need one if they do not have business with such agencies.
The ministry will also encourage associations of hospitals or medical tourism agencies to set up their own guidelines against illegal acts in order to boost the credibility of the nation’s medical tourism sector.
The ministry will also encourage hospitals to charge patients medical fees, not the agencies, to stop agents adding a high premium.
The government plans to have 10,000 “global healthcare experts” by 2020 including nurses and interpreters specializing in medical treatment interpretation. The ministry is also considering adopting another license for interpreters specializing in medical treatment. It will also help hospitals and colleges make agreements on hiring graduates majoring in specific languages, such as Arabic and Russian, as interpreters.
The government also seeks to link medical tourism with regular tourism programmes. Medical visas can now be issued to patients and also people who attend on them, such as family members.
The ministry is also developing a debit card with which the patients and the family can get discount on transportation, shopping, tour and medical fees.
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