By Kim Bo-eun
Foreign patients visiting Korea will be able to get counseling, interpreting services and legal aid at a designated office in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, from Monday.
"We are opening the Medical Korea Information Center to better deal with the increasing number of foreign visitors coming here for medical purposes," a Ministry of Health and Welfare official said.
Foreign patients who visit the center or dial 15777-129 will be provided services in English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and Arabic.
They will be able to get information on medical institutions, receive counseling as well as make reservations for health checkups. Interpretation services are also available for patients and medical staff.
Legal experts will work to protect the foreign patients' rights by helping them apply for medical dispute mediation. The center will also receive reports on illegal brokers.
The services follow a Korea Health Industry Development Institute survey in December of 238 institutions treating foreign patients. According to the survey, the institutions needed interpretation services the most, followed by counseling over visa extension and medical disputes.
Korea had an accumulated 1 million foreign patients as of the first half of last year, according to the ministry. It aims to attract 400,000 this year alone and 1 million in 2020.
Foreign patients visiting Korea will be able to get counseling, interpreting services and legal aid at a designated office in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, from Monday.
"We are opening the Medical Korea Information Center to better deal with the increasing number of foreign visitors coming here for medical purposes," a Ministry of Health and Welfare official said.
Foreign patients who visit the center or dial 15777-129 will be provided services in English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and Arabic.
They will be able to get information on medical institutions, receive counseling as well as make reservations for health checkups. Interpretation services are also available for patients and medical staff.
Legal experts will work to protect the foreign patients' rights by helping them apply for medical dispute mediation. The center will also receive reports on illegal brokers.
The services follow a Korea Health Industry Development Institute survey in December of 238 institutions treating foreign patients. According to the survey, the institutions needed interpretation services the most, followed by counseling over visa extension and medical disputes.
Korea had an accumulated 1 million foreign patients as of the first half of last year, according to the ministry. It aims to attract 400,000 this year alone and 1 million in 2020.
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