Hospitals allowed to attract patients from foreign countries

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- The government said Friday that it will allow local
hospitals to engage in activities aimed at luring patients from foreign countries
starting in April as part of efforts to reduce the nation's trade shortfall in
the medical service sector.
A related law will be endorsed in mid-January at a cabinet meeting and it will go
into effect three months later, according to the Ministry of Health, Wealth and
Family Affairs.
Under the move, local hospitals will be allowed to make efforts to attract
patients from foreign countries directly or through agencies. The ministry
expects it will help reduce the nation's trade deficit in the medical service
sector which amounts to around 65 billion won (US$48.4 million) every year.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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