Incheon Sejong Hospital Visits Kazakhstan to Consult 27 Obesity Patients, Stepping Up International Patient Outreach

Incheon Sejong Hospital is stepping up its efforts to attract international patients, traveling directly to Kazakhstan to see patients with obesity.

The hospital announced on November 3 that it recently consulted 27 local patients seeking metabolic and bariatric surgery at ART VEN, a medical institution in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The visit was organized to introduce the hospital's specialized metabolic and bariatric surgery care and treatment approach to patients abroad, and to connect those who need surgery with treatment in Korea.

The delegation included Dr. Lee Sung-bae, Director of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center (Surgery) at Incheon Sejong Hospital, along with Administrative Director Kim Myung-hoon and Manager Hong Hyun-soo.

The consultations took place at a medical institution run by Dr. Azimbayev Galimzhan, a specialist who completed Sejong Hospital's training program for overseas medical professionals. The relationship built through that training has now extended to local patient care and treatment cooperation.

Dr. Lee reviewed each patient's degree of obesity, comorbidities, and previous treatment history, and explained treatment options, including metabolic and bariatric surgery. For some patients, he advised that further detailed examinations and treatment would be needed.

Based on these consultations, Incheon Sejong Hospital plans to arrange examinations and surgical consultations for patients who need treatment in Korea, and to continue its cooperation with the local medical institution.

In October, the hospital reached a cumulative total of 1,800 metabolic and bariatric surgeries.

Since launching its Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center in December 2022, the hospital has built experience treating not only patients with severe obesity but also older adults and patients with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease. International patients from Kazakhstan, Russia, China, and Thailand have also undergone surgery at the hospital.

“Meeting patients in person, checking their health, and explaining treatment directions locally is an important process that helps international patients choose the right care,” said Dr. Lee. “For patients who need metabolic and bariatric surgery, we will provide personalized care based on Incheon Sejong Hospital's treatment capabilities, including da Vinci SP single-port robotic surgery and multidisciplinary care for underlying conditions.”