Medical Tourism in South Korea "B"

Medical Visa

Medical tourists to South Korea have to be invited to receive medical services by registered health providers or medical tourism agencies. An international patient can stay in the country for up to 180 days, depending on the nature of the medical procedure to be done. The patient has to submit the following documents to his local South Korean embassy or consulate.

Visa Application
3×4 Photos
Proof of medical treatment requirement from the health provider
Financial documents as proof of the patient’s ability to pay for his expenses
A copy of the registration certificate of the healthcare provider or the medical tourism agency

People from some countries like the US do not have to have a visa. A US passport is enough to enter Korea for up to 90 days of stay in the country. US citizens are only required to get a visa if they have to be there for more than that period. For more information about requirements to enter Korea, international patients to South Korea should inquire at their local South Korean embassy or consulate to be certain.

South Korean Currency

South Korea’s official currency is the South Korean Won. Depending on the fluctuating exchange rates, a US dollar can be approximately worth 1,100 SK Won.

South Korea’s Medical Facilities and Equipment

All medical institutions and facilitators in the country who are interested to attract medical tourists to South Korea have to register and comply with specific requirements (Article 27.2 of the country’s Medical Service Act).
In order to register, a medical specialist per department is required to monitor and ensure the quality of healthcare they provide.
State-of-the-art equipment and cutting edge devices are used in the country’s hospitals, which is no surprise for a popularly technology-savvy country.
As per the Korea Healthcare Industry Report of 2009, Korea is #3 in the world for the number of CT scan machines per million of population, following only Japan and the US.
This is the same ranking for MRI machines, where South Korea is third to Japan and the US, and ahead of huge European countries like Germany, UK, and France. You may also check South Korea’s health profile as of 2008, as given by the World Health Organization.
Most hospitals involved in South Korean medical tourism maintain an international patients department that employs English speaking staff especially hired to take care of medical tourists’ needs.

Qualifications of Medical Doctors in South Korea

Patients going to South Korea for medical tourism are treated by doctors who have international accreditation. To facilitate lifelong education and training, all Korean Medical Association (KMA) members employed at medical facilities are required to complete at least 12 credits of training yearly, ranging from workshops, online training, lectures, publications, symposiums, and conferences.

Tips for South Korea Medical Tourists

The most important rule is to research the qualifications of all parties a patient is interested to work with, including the hospital, doctor, and medical tourism agency.
Be aware of the weather and climate by looking up forecasted conditions for your scheduled trip so you can pack clothing as needed.
Inquire from the nearest South Korean embassy or consulate about the latest updates regarding requirements to enter South Korea.
Take advantage of the other benefits of going to South Korea as a medical tourist: look up the festivals, restaurants, cultural sites, mountains, and beaches you would like to explore – then schedule your trip accordingly. Just make sure to consult the doctor about what activities you want to do, so he can advise you on the things you may or may not be allowed to do before and after your medical visits to the hospital.
Coordinate with the hospital or medical tourism agency for the itinerary you want, as they will be able to help you out with arranging side trips to tourist spots before, in between, or after hospital visits when possible.
Medical tourism agencies are able to provide packages with hotels and transportation services during your stay, and most are available for discounted rates.
The success of medical tourism in South Korea is mainly due to the low costs of excellent-quality medical procedures and services. However, ensure that you are getting the best rates by getting feedback from more than one hospital and doctor if available. For this, working with a reputable medical tourism agency is best, as they will be able to give you options that will work best with your needs.

Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates low cost treatments for various health problems, in South Korea. Fill out the free estimate request form for a free quote &more information