By Yun Suh-young

The Ministry of Health and Welfare held a hearing Friday to gather opinions from the public and professionals in the medical field to clarify rules of practice and qualification standards for foreign medical students.

The ministry plans to set rules and qualification standards when discussions are complete, opening the door for foreign doctors undergoing training here to practice medicine.

If the rules are finalized, foreign doctors and dentists will be able to practice with certain limitations.

Under article 27 of the Medical Law, foreign doctors who are staying in the country for a certain period of time may carry out education and research after gaining permission from the ministry.

However, at the moment, they are not allowed to practice medicine.

“We plan to allow foreign doctors who are training in Korea to practice medicine on patients in an effort to enhance the effectiveness of the programs,” said a ministry official.

The ministry runs training programs for doctors from developing countries such as China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan in order to pass on Korean medical knowhow.

Once the rules are finalized, those training in Korea who wish to practice medicine must register for approval from the health ministry.

If they are approved, they must undergo three months additional training before treating patients, who must also give their consent.

The hospitals where they practice must be approved by the government.

In other news, the legislation of a law allowing the establishment of a foreigners’ medical facility within the Incheon free economic zone will also be completed by the end of this year.

If the procedure is finalized, the construction of the Songdo International Hospital will begin next February with the goal of opening the facility by the end of 2015.