Pusan National University Hospital Leads Medical Tourism in Busan

As Seo-gu, Busan was designated as a 'Global Hi-Medi Hub Special Zone' in January, Pusan National University Hospital, which participated as a specialized operator, started attracting foreign patients. Pusan National University Hospital plans to revitalize medical tourism in the region around Busan and the local economy by taking this as an opportunity.

Many overseas patients want to be treated by Korean medical staff even amid the COVID-19 situation. Since November last year, Pusan National University Hospital, equipped with a video treatment system, has provided non-face-to-face treatment.

Pusan National University Hospital is currently the only hospital where non-face-to-face treatment for foreign patients is available in Busan. About ten professors from 8 departments, including gastroenterology, dermatology, obstetrics, and gynecology, have participated.

Pusan National University Hospital International Medical Center operates a specialized treatment room equipped with a system that can transmit and receive data and images. Professional coordinators (nurse) for each language, such as English, Russian, and Chinese, are assigned as regular staff to provide '24-hour on-call service' such as counseling and medical treatment.

"The approach for the satisfactory treatment between Korean and Russian doctors was very different," expressed a Russian patient who received obstetrics and gynecology treatment online. "Unlike Russian doctors, who did not deliver an exact message, the confident Korean doctor gave a sufficient explanation to the patient and instilled a sense of relief," she posed her review on the website. Then the obstetrics and gynecology department of Pusan National University Hospital received a flood of requests for consultations.

Professor Moon-Won Lee of the Department of Gastroenterology at Pusan National University Hospital said, "Through prior consultation with patients at the International Medical Center, I was able to check local medical information for treatment in advance."

He counted, "Moreover, due to the smooth interpretation, had no major difficulties in non-face-to-face treatment."

Lee Jeong-gyu, head of the international treatment center at Pusan ​​National University Hospital, said, "To attract foreign patients with severe diseases, we will continue to upgrade the existing non-face-to-face medical services and expand the target countries."

The International Medical Center is staffed with medical staff and coordinators who can communicate in English, Chinese, and Russian for patients residing in Korea and visiting from abroad to support the overall treatment, hospitalization, examination, and payment.

An official from Pusan ​​National University Hospital voiced, "The number of foreign patients who visited Pusan ​​National University Hospital in 2021 is increasing about 10,000, every year." "We are preparing for an increase of the patients with severe diseases visiting Busan when non-face-to-face treatment is activated, and the medical tourism special zone project is in full swing," he stated. Pusan ​​National University Hospital plans to provide services with related institutions so that foreign patients can focus on treatment rather than other difficulties such as communication and accommodation.

Meanwhile, Seo-gu was first designated as a special medical tourism zone in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, and the fifth nationwide. In the future, free from various regulations, it will be possible to freely promote ▲technical cooperation between hospitals ▲expansion and attraction of facilities exclusively for foreign patients ▲professional overseas promotion and marketing.