Choosing a clinic safely

Korea keeps a register of the medical institutions and agencies that serve international patients. A registered institution must, among other things, have a specialist in each department it registers and carry medical liability insurance. The register may be searched on Medical Korea, run by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

Registration is not a mark of quality. It tells you that the institution answers to Korea’s law on international patients.

• Ask for the name of the doctor who will carry out your treatment, and whether he or she is a board-certified specialist (전문의) in that field.
• A clinic opened by a specialist may carry the speciality in its name, such as …피부과의원 or …성형외과의원. Where the speciality appears only as a listed department (진료과목) beneath a general clinic name, ask about the doctor’s training.
• For surgery, have it confirmed in writing that the surgeon you consulted is the surgeon who will operate.

• Who will give sedation or general anaesthesia, and will an anaesthesiologist be present?
• What emergency equipment is kept in the treatment room, and to which hospital would you be transferred in an emergency?

Under Korean law, only registered institutions and registered agencies may attract international patients to Korean hospitals. Unregistered brokering is a criminal offence. Be wary when:

• an account on social media, or a “coordinator”, offers to book your treatment and asks to be paid directly rather than the clinic;
• you are offered free treatment or a discount in return for reviews or photographs;
• you cannot obtain the clinic’s own name, address and price in writing.

• The diagnosis or treatment plan, and the expected cost
• Possible side effects and complications
• Aftercare instructions and the dates of follow-up
• How complaints and disputes are handled