DOHA: The South Korean Government is looking into opportunities to enhance ties with Qatar in the field of health care, with a high level medical delegation visiting Qatar recently. The two countries are set to sign an agreement to promote the medical cooperation between the two countries soon, according to the Vice-Minster for Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
“Both Qatar and Korea enjoy good cooperation and bilateral relations in many fields, however, relations in health care are limited,” said Young Hak Yoo, the minster.
“We hope to strengthen and bring both countries closer, and hence, we are trying to look into all areas of cooperation. We hope this visit would help expand exchanges and enhance trust between the two countries and Korea to be designated as a country that can provide medical services to people in Qatar in the near future.”
Earlier, Qatar had agreed to sign and agreement in health cooperation and Korea has now handed over a draft of memorandum of understanding which is being reviewed by Qatari officials.
The MoU stresses on cooperation in health sector which includes exchange of technology and experts, training programmes and higher accessibility in health services for the people of both countries.
The Korean delegation had visited Qatar Thursday, to showcase the Korean health industry to Qatar and to promote the medical cooperation between the two countries. Yoo met H E Abdullah Khaled Al Qahtani, Minister of Health, and Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation, to discuss the interests between Korea and Qatar in the field of medical service.
The delegates also included representatives from the private sector. Major Korean medical institutions such as Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, the Korean Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association) and the Korean Medical Devices Industry Association showcased the Korean health care services and industry.
Korea has world-class specialised medical centres for chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, circulatory disorder, joint medical centres for oriental and western medicine and health examination centres. To the benefit of patients, the high quality medical services are provided at relatively low price.
The number of foreigners going to Korea for medical services has been on the steady rise despite the global economic recession and pandemic diseases like Swine flu. According to a survey out of the 2009 figures, 150 health tourists were from Arab countries, a 168 percent increase from the previous year.
The trend shows the possibility that though it is far away from Qatar; Korea can provide access to medical services for people in the region.
By Huda NV
© The Peninsula 2009
