Table 3 Timeline of the Korean Government’s Policy Actions in Support of Medical Tourism
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| Nov 2005 | Korean government formed a task force with the objective of attraction of foreign patients |
| Jan 2009 |
• Revised the medical law: introducing, arranging, and inviting foreign patients became legal • Attracting foreign patients was selected as a specific task • Designating the Global health care business as one of 17 new growth engine industries. • Registration Act for Foreign Patient Registration (Article 27–2 of the Medical Law)” was passed |
| May 2009 |
Implementing registration system of medical institutions Issued medical visa (M visa) for medical tourists |
| Nov 2009 | Developing “Smart Korea, Medical Korea” as a national medical brand |
| July 2011 | Developing malpractice insurance policy for a medical institution |
| Dec 2011 | Allowing physicians and dentists to dispense medicines |
| May 2013 | Designating medical tourism industry as one of 140 national tasks |
| Nov 2013 | Establishing medical tourism hotel business |
| Sep 2014 | Allowing hospital facility to enter medical tourism hotels |
| July, 2016 | “Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Healthcare System and Attraction of International Patients” enacted |
| March 2017 | “1st Comprehensive Plan to Support Overseas Expansion of the Healthcare System and Attraction of International Patients” |
| May 2018 | “Enforcement plan to Support Overseas Expansion of Healthcare System and Attraction of International Patients 2018” |