[Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare]
South Korea's health ministry has approved the project for a Chinese state company to run a for-profit hospital in Jeju Island despite criticism that the decision will accelerate the commercialization of the country’s medical industry.
All hospitals in South Korea are currently non-profit entities. Most citizens are enrolled in a national health insurance and gain access to the hospitals to see doctors relatively easy.
The health ministry on Friday announced that it would permit the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province to build the Greenland International Hospital as early as March 2017.
If the province’s health care policy deliberation committee approves the plan, the hospital can be the first for-profit hospital in South Korea.
The hospital owned by China's Greenland Group will be built in Jeju Healthcare Town in Seogwipo City. Greenland is a state-owned enterprise with 50 percent of its stakes controlled by the city of Shanghai
According to a plan submitted by the group, the new hospital will have 47 beds and be staffed by 134 doctors, nurses, medical technicians and administrative staff. The Chinese company said it plans to inject 77.8 billion won into the project and have a 100-percent stake in the hospital
The hospital will offer treatment services in internal medicine, dermatology, cosmetic surgery and family medicine, targeting mostly on Chinese tourists and patients.
The plan, however, drew protests from residents and civic groups who argue that for-profit hospitals inflate medical bills and disturb the country’s health insurance system.
The health ministry and the Jeju provincial government say the foreign for-profit hospital will help stimulate the local economy.
By Alex lee
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
