Middle Asia Kazakhstan is becoming the most wanted place for attracting foreign patient. Along with Russia and United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan is one of three biggest countries for high medical examination fee.
According to Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Kazakhstan recorded sixth largest number of patients visited Korea followed by China, U.S, Russia, Japan and Mongolia.
Sejong Hospital, a hospital specialized in heart diseases, serves patients from Kazakhstan roughly 20% which are 1200 number of patients (2014). The hospital expects 30% increase this year compared to last year. They are targeting Kazakhstan as a main target followed by Russia and Mongolia.
Due to an increase of number of patients from Kazakhstan, main airlines expanded direct flight routes. Asiana airlines decided to put on a new route between Incheon~Astana once every week on August, 2015. Air Astana also began direct route flight between Incheon~Astana last June 2, 2015.
Severance Hospital, Hanyang university hospital, Soon Chun Hyang university hospital and other main hospitals along with city of Busan, Daegu, Gangnam-gu and main local governments are putting great efforts in Kazakhstan.
Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital is moving aggressively to attract overseas patient and sign medical agreements with local institutes in Kazakhstan.
Attracting foreign patient is a core of 3 years economy innovation plan and one of major government projects. Last year, profits of medical treatment rose up to 500 billion dollars. If it adds accumulated number of patients and treatment fees, 900,000 people from 2009 to last year and created 1.5 trillion won profits.
In other hand, the worries of faith in interpretation, patients' interests protection, foreign government or medical center are constantly increasing as the number of foreign patients are increasing in Korea.
