By Kim Rahn
A medical center for foreign patients will open on Yeongjong Island near Incheon International Airport in May.
Officials of Inha University Hospital said Tuesday that its hospital foundation will operate the clinic which will mainly deal with foreign patients.
“It is the first time for a hospital here to establish a separate clinic to provide medical service to foreigners, while most general hospitals operate small-scale internal international centers inside,” an official said.
The as-yet-unnamed medical center will open near the Hyatt Regency Incheon, about five minutes drive from the airport. It will be a non-profit hospital like others here, and Koreans can use it as well.
Departments to be included are those for which Korea has developed skills such as plastic surgery, skin care, dentistry and Oriental medicine.
Many Asian patients are expected to visit, especially those from China, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan, where Korean medical services are receiving attention along with “hallyu” or the Korean wave, the official said.
Taking advantage of the location close to the airport, the clinic plans to focus on out-patients who can stop by after arriving in the country or before leaving, rather than in-patients who need to receive treatment for a long period.
It will also operate a spa, diet programs and beauty clinic for male customers, meeting the trend connecting medical services and beauty treatment.
“Layover travelers who have two to three hours between flights will also be able to use our services, such as spa and beauty care programs.”
The hospital plans to hire about 110 doctors, nurses and staffers, fluent in foreign languages, as well as experts in marketing and health insurance. It will soon start recruitment.
“For the Chinese market, we also plan to have Chinese doctors. But Chinese doctors can’t treat patients here according to the law, so they may come as trainees and exchange opinions with Korean doctors on patients’ conditions.”
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr