[Editorial] Let the Medical Industry Boost the Nation

In February, Algerians and Filipinos went under the knife at a hospital in Daegu. They were satisfied with the medical service. Local media in the two nations reported their experiences in Korea, which has helped to boost the country’s image as a powerhouse in medical services. From March to May, Chinese, English and Rumanians visited Daegu. They not only spent a lot on medical services but also on tours and shopping. The day before yesterday, Busan announced its ‘six luxurious tour products,’ which include ocean cruises, culture, ecology, convention, shipping and medical services. Busan hopes to run a specialized medical service area in the two districts of Haeundae and Busanjin, where hospitals are concentrated.

The medical service industry can be a growth engine for an aging society while the tourist industry can be a growth engine in an era of globalization. Deft Korean surgeons and dentists have world-renown talent. Moreover, Korea’s medical service is relatively cheap thanks to the government’s price controls. Korea has great potential to become a powerhouse for medical tourism. In a survey by the Korea Tourism Organization, 80 percent of residents in Russia’s far eastern regions answered that they were willing to visit Korea to get medical service.

Medical tourism can be a strategic industry through which the nation can attract tourists and hospitals can earn money. To this end, President Lee Myung-bak said the government would consider the medical industry as a new growth engine. Nevertheless, only private hospitals and some local governments in Daegu and Busan have struggled to lure medical tourists. However, instead of supporting them with new infrastructure and deregulation, the central government and the National Assembly are hampering their efforts.

Many nations have already begun to consider medical tourism as an opportunity for growth. For example, Thailand successfully drew 1.5 million patients in 2007 alone by combining hospitals with luxurious service and facilities comparable to hotels. The medical packages include talented doctors and hospital staff who have studied abroad, as well as outstanding tourist attractions. Medical tourism hubs include Hungary and Poland in Europe and Lebanon and Dubai in the Middle East. Hungarian dental travel is well-known across the world. Not only Western Europeans but also Americans visit Hungary to receive quality dental service. Dental travel to Hungary has contributed significantly to the nation’s surplus account.

Even though Korea is equipped with quality medical services and price competitiveness, medical tourism is still in its early stages. In 2007, 6.45 million foreign tourists visited Korea. Only 20,000 of them came for medical treatment. What stands in the way of Korea’s medical tourism are a lack of marketing, relevant laws and regulations, language barriers, and difficulties in obtaining visas for patients and partners. Most of all, the nation’s Medical Practice Act is the biggest obstacle since it prevents hospitals from attracting foreign patients. The government and the National Assembly should eliminate these legal obstacles and help turn medical tourism into the nation’s next growth engine. Let the medical industry boost the nation’s power.