The Korea Institute of Healthcare Accreditation (KOIHA) acquired International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) recognition according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Wednesday.

This will boost Korean hospitals’ efforts to attract patients from overseas as there is no need to apply for accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the American equivalent of KOIHA.

Accreditation from ISQua means that KOIHA’s standard for medical facilities is on par with JCI, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standard, and Haute Autorite de Sante (France).

The organization based in Ireland certifies local institutions that oversee the quality of healthcare services. As of this month, ISQua endorses 37 standards managed by 22 international groups.

“A number of healthcare professionals were waiting for this. Until now, hospitals spent significant time and money to be JCI certified as the American standard was widely accepted as a mark of excellence with ISQua backing — especially crucial for medical tourism,” Kim Kyun-sook, project manager at KOIHA, told The Korea Times. “Promoting Korea’s high quality medical service globally will be much easier.”

ISQua examines 56 criteria in the areas of quality improvement, patient focus approach, organizational planning and performance, safety, standard development and standard management.

leann.noh@koreatimes.co.kr