Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Can not foreigners receive quality medical care now?
Why does it take over six years to build a hospital?
How long should it take to build a hospital?
Should not Koreans and foreigners receive high quality medical care now?
How about have good care for all people?

Hospital for Foreigners to Be Built in Inchon

A world-class medical facility for foreigners will be set up in Inchon, the west coast port city that was recently designated as the country's first free economic zone, Health-Welfare Minister Kim Hwa-joong said yesterday.

The facility, which is expected to open around 2010, will house some 1,000 hospital rooms and employ skilled medical staff from overseas as well as Korea to provide medical services of a top standard, the minister said.

"Patients from around the world, especially from those from Northeast Asian countries like China, Japan and Taiwan, will be able to enjoy the best medical services available at the hospital," Kim said.

The ministry is considering seeking domestic capital to help build the facility, Kim said, adding that it will seek revisions to the free economic zone law which only allows foreign capital projects.

Kim also said the ministry will "carefully consider" the issue of allowing Koreans to use the facility as it might have a negative effect on the public medical service system.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200308/kt2003081422440012070.htm

[Banana Bender]

RR ,

Enjoyed your post , and I thought I would add my hard gained two bits worth about the Korean medical system .
I recently needed an operation for a bung knee , and thought , since I was here and have medical benefits the Korean system should be fine . ( read mistake which luckily wasn't made )
I had a MRI done which was done well and then made an appointment for a specialist orthopaedic surgeon . The day came for the appointment and the specialist tells me that I need a partial knee replacement with seven days in hospital and atleast two months off work. We will schedule a date for admittance . ( Not happy , but he is a specialist ) The next day the hospital rings and says I should consult an Australian specialist for a second opion. Why , says I ? Who has ever heard of a specialist telling you to get a second opinion . ( read alarm bells ringing ) I spent quite a bit of time trying to contact my GP in my home town. It was no good as he is very busy . By this time my knee has been drained twice and is still the size of a reasonable balloon .
I got tired of waiting and made another appointment and went and saw him. He informed that yes they will operate on me and set a date for the operation. I was sort of happy as I could see an end to this torment and pain . I am informed that I need to have pre-operative tests and X - rays completed. The cost will be 400,000 W .
The day of admittance comes, and I get a phone call from the hospital saying that they can't operate on me because I am a foreigner and other BS. Did you just notice I was a foreigner ? Or was this just a scam to get as much money out of me as you could ? I asked for a refund of the money I spent on the tests they said I needed. The hospital replied that they don't issue refunds but if I should ever need an operation it would be put towards it .
I made an appointment in Brisbane and the specialist laughed at the type operation recommended . He said that maybe at sixty you will need that type of operation but not now . ( seemly he has shown the Korean recommendation to all the Orthopods there and they all give the same reaction )
I ended having an Arthroscopy and was walking on the knee the same day of the operation and back at work four days later .
The moral of the story ? Don't touch the medical system for anything that needs a specialist . But that is my opinion and I may be wrong .
The hospital name is Danghook University Hospital .

[billbile]

I really don't see the point behind these special zones for foreigners. How will they work? Are they really going to try and keep Koreans out? (of parts of their own country?) If so, how can they do this in a way that is fair and equitable?

Whatever, we know that Koreans will be scratching each others eyes out to live there inside the foreign 'haven' and take advantage of the excellent facilities etc. And who can blame them, really.

What you'd get is a foreigner zone watered down by Koreans. Why then is there any need to create such a zone in the first place? Why not just put the facilities anywhere? The foreigners will find them if they need them. I don't know of many foreigners these days who seriously think it is beneath them to get out amongst the natives, as it were.

[Gord]

[Real Reality]

The government decided to allow local residents to receive medical services at foreign-run hospitals in the free economic zones to be set up in Inchon, Pusan and Kwangyang during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

According to the government plan, general hospitals, dental clinics and recuperation facilities to be established by foreigners or foreign corporations in the special economic zone will be able to provide medical services to local residents. But pharmacies operating in the zones will not be allowed to sell medicine to locals, the official said. Hospitals are expected to have 500-1,000 beds and be completed by around 2008. Health insurance will not cover medical fees at the foreign hospitals.
Foreign Hospitals in FEZ to Accept Korean Nationals
By Kim Rahn
Korea Times (November 16, 2004)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200411/kt2004111614543110230.htm

[dogbert]

The reason it will take "six years" to build is because it is scheduled to be built during Phase 2 of the project, which begins next year and continues through 2011. It would make little sense to build a hospital immediately and staff it when there are as yet no potential patients in its service area.