By Kim Se-jeong
Medical services in Korea are satisfactory but too expensive for foreign patients, making them hesitate to return for further treatment, a study showed Sunday.
The Korea Health Industry Development Institute surveyed about 1,200 people from China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam about their experiences with the Korean medical service.
Chinese patients were the most satisfied, rating the service at 4.3 points out of five. More than 91 percent said they were satisfied with the quality of the service. They praised the accurate diagnoses and good treatment.
Vietnamese and UAE patients rated the service at 3.96 points and 3.82 points, respectively. The Vietnamese said they sought out Korean services simply because they were the closest ones available. People from the UAE said they liked the high-end medical equipment the most.
"This shows what the priorities are for the Korean medical industry," an institute official said. "It is important to keep prices reasonable and to be friendly.
Rip-offs of foreign patients have been the dark side of Korea's medical service.
The central government and local governments are taking measures to prevent these. The Seoul Metropolitan Government recently revealed online the fees at 30 prominent hospitals in the city, so people can compare. However the hospitals were reluctant to give comprehensive fee listings, limiting them to checkups.
Medical services in Korea are satisfactory but too expensive for foreign patients, making them hesitate to return for further treatment, a study showed Sunday.
The Korea Health Industry Development Institute surveyed about 1,200 people from China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam about their experiences with the Korean medical service.
Chinese patients were the most satisfied, rating the service at 4.3 points out of five. More than 91 percent said they were satisfied with the quality of the service. They praised the accurate diagnoses and good treatment.
Vietnamese and UAE patients rated the service at 3.96 points and 3.82 points, respectively. The Vietnamese said they sought out Korean services simply because they were the closest ones available. People from the UAE said they liked the high-end medical equipment the most.
But 15.3 percent of Chinese, 16.4 percent of Vietnamese and 34.9 percent of UAE people said they would not use Korean medical services again, citing high fees, unkind medical staff, the distance and inconvenience while in Korea.
"This shows what the priorities are for the Korean medical industry," an institute official said. "It is important to keep prices reasonable and to be friendly.
Rip-offs of foreign patients have been the dark side of Korea's medical service.
The central government and local governments are taking measures to prevent these. The Seoul Metropolitan Government recently revealed online the fees at 30 prominent hospitals in the city, so people can compare. However the hospitals were reluctant to give comprehensive fee listings, limiting them to checkups.
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