Ministry of Health and Welfare Designates 53 Facilities as 2nd Phase Rehabilitation Medical Institutions

Rehabilitation therapy reference photo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 16th that it has designated 53 institutions as the 2nd phase rehabilitation medical institutions. The designation period is from next month until February 2026.

Rehabilitation medical institutions refer to medical institutions that provide intensive rehabilitation treatment services during the functional recovery period to minimize disabilities of patients after onset or surgery and to enable early social reintegration, according to the "Act on the Health Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

Hospitals designated as rehabilitation medical institutions will apply customized rehabilitation fees for patient-tailored rehabilitation treatment and smooth linkage and treatment to the local community after discharge.

Patients eligible for rehabilitation fees while hospitalized in rehabilitation medical institutions include those with central nervous system conditions (brain injury, spinal cord injury), musculoskeletal conditions (fractures and replacement surgeries of the hip joint, pelvis, femur, etc.), and disuse syndrome diseases.

Park Mira, Director of the Medical Institution Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "The designation of rehabilitation medical institutions is expected to establish a rehabilitation medical delivery system that connects 'acute phase - recovery phase - maintenance phase and community integrated care,' reduce repetitive admissions and discharges, and promote effective functional recovery and early social reintegration."