Hospital Interpreters Enhance Patient Experience

Hanshin Medipia offers services in English and Chinese, along with customized health screening programs for international visitors. They also provide language assistance during the visit. Seoul is significantly increasing its medical tourism interpreter-coordinators to approximately 1,000 this year, a nearly tenfold increase, to better serve the growing number of foreign patients. This expansion aims to provide comprehensive support, including consultations and post-treatment care. The city of Seoul signed an agreement with the K-Medical Tourism Association to deploy trained interpreter-coordinators to major medical institutions and enhance their skills through specialized programs. These coordinators offer translation during procedures and consultations, guiding patients on treatment options. Seoul is developing an integrated platform with information on hospitals, visas, accommodations, and tourism services to strengthen its position in medical tourism. They also plan to designate "medical-friendly accommodations" near hospitals for long-term stays.