South Korea health care for patients

Abu Dhabi: More Emirati patients will be referred to South Korean hospitals for various treatments, including those for cancer and transplants, senior health officials said in the capital yesterday.

The announcement was made following the signing of agreements between the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and four renowned medical facilities in South Korea.

"This agreement will allow patients to gain access to sophisticated medical procedures that may not be available here. In addition, HAAD will work to transfer knowledge between the medical communities in Abu Dhabi and South Korea," Zaid Al Siksek, chief executive officer of HAAD, told Gulf News.

The number of Middle Eastern patients who sought treatment in South Korea increased from 949 in 2010 to 1,821 in 2011, a 91 per cent increase.

Emirati patients were already being referred to other South Korean institutions for treatment by the HAAD's International Patient Care Centre, prior to the signing of yesterday's agreements.

Referrals

"Most of these referrals are for oncological [cancer related] treatment, as we still do not have a specialised treatment centre here in Abu Dhabi.

"In addition, transplants are 25 per cent less costly in South Korea," said Dr Jamal Al Ka'abi, director of customer care and corporate communication at the HAAD.

Yesterday's agreements were signed with the CHA Gangnam Medical Centre, EWHA Woman's University Medical Centre in Seoul, Severance Hospital and Wooridul Hospital, all of which are loated in Seoul.

The HAAD has also previously signed an agreement for knowledge transfer and cooperation with South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW).