'COVID-19 Impact' Foreign Patients in Incheon Plummet from 20,000 to 5,000 Range

Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik "Need for Incheon-style Medical Tourism Strategy in Preparation for With-Corona"

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Heo Jong-sik

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The number of foreign patients visiting medical institutions in the Incheon area has drastically decreased from 20,000 to the 5,000 range due to the impact of COVID-19 and other factors.

According to the '2020 Foreign Patient Attraction Performance Statistical Analysis Report' received by Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Jongsik (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu Gap) from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the number of foreign patients treated at medical institutions in Incheon in 2020 was 5,279, a 78.8% decrease from 24,864 in the previous year.

Since the revision of the Medical Service Act initiated medical tourism in 2009, when the number of foreign patients in Incheon was first recorded at 4,400, the number surpassed 20,000 in 2019, marking an all-time high. However, due to travel bans and entry restrictions between countries caused by COVID-19, the number of patients sharply declined.

Last year, the number of foreign patients attracted by city and province (year-on-year growth rate) was as follows: Seoul 66,507 (△79.2%), Gyeonggi 17,832 (△66.6%), Daegu 5,280 (△83.1%), Incheon 5,279 (△78.8%), Busan 5,030 (△74.5%), Jeonbuk 4,224 (△12.7%), Jeju 3,472 (△75.4%).

In 2019, Incheon (24,864 patients, 40.0%) had been behind Daegu (31,183 patients, 75.7%) in both patient numbers and year-on-year growth rate, but within one year, Incheon was able to match Daegu with patient numbers in the 5,200 range, which is analyzed to be thanks to Incheon International Airport.

Last year, the nationalities of foreign patients visiting Incheon were recorded as China (1,449), the United States (615), Russia (486), Thailand (298), Vietnam (249), Mongolia (245), and Kazakhstan (232), in that order.

The medical departments most visited by foreign patients were internal medicine integration (11 departments, 1,369 patients), dermatology (599 patients), obstetrics and gynecology (512 patients), orthopedics (446 patients), and general surgery (294 patients), in that order.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that as some hospitals reduce international medical services due to COVID-19, the foundation for treating foreign patients may be shaken as we enter the With-Corona era.

As of February this year, 78 medical institutions and 43 agencies attracting foreign patients are registered in the Incheon area, and it is known that some medical institutions are considering restructuring their international medical teams.

Lawmaker Heo Jongsik emphasized, "As the quarantine system transitions to With-Corona, the number of foreign entrants may increase, so it is necessary to conduct a detailed analysis of the scale and treatment details of foreign patients who have visited Incheon medical institutions over the past 10 years, and actively respond to changes in the foreign patient attraction environment to establish a strategic plan for Incheon-type medical tourism business."