SKorea develops medical tourism with Russian Far East

SEOUL, July 5 (Itar-Tass) - South Korea has been actively developing
of late medical tourism with Russia's Far East, within the framework of
which patients from Russia arrive in Seoul for free surgeries, president
of the Korea Tourism Organisation Charm Lee told Tass on Tuesday.
For example, a girl from a family with decent incomes was operated in
Seoul for harelip within the framework of that program. Free of charge
medical treatment was organized by the Korea Tourism Organisation in
cooperation with one of the local hospitals. Now the girl has to undergo
another surgery, as such defects cannot be eliminated in one operation.
There is another program launched in Russia's Primorye, which is
called YouHealthcare Centre. The first such centre was opened in
Vladivostok. On-line videoconferences are held there with medics from
South Korean hospitals with the help of big computer monitors.
Two South Korean medics help Vladivostok patients get successful
consultations. Before the treatment begins, the patients learn beforehand
which procedures they will have to go through. Such approach helps them
choose suitable treatment options before they arrive in South Korea, Charm
Lee said.
He said this system has already proved successful. "Now we intend to
expand the network of such centres in Siberia and the Russian Far East, in
particular in Irkutsk, where Korean Air airliners now fly twice a week, as
well as in other cities of that region, possibly in Khabarovsk," he
stressed.
Visa issuing procedures have become much simpler of late, he noted.
The Embassy and consulates of South Korea cooperate with the Korea Tourism
Organisation in that issue, and it has become possible, for example in
Vladivostok, to get a visa to South Korea in just one day.