Through a revised medical law in 2009, South Korean medical centers and clinics were able to invite foreign patients through the so-called "medical tourism" program. A total of 590,866 foreigners visited South Korea in 2019 to receive top-notch medical services combined with tourist programs.
CHA Biotech and Sung Kwang Medical Foundation were selected by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute to jointly develop a digital healthcare platform for foreign patients. The platform will help patients to communicate with medical staff and prepare for their visits. Doctors can keep track of their patients after they returned home. Patients can use a video conference feature to be diagnosed by South Korean medical staff at a nearby partner medical clinic.
CHA Biotech said that the digital healthcare platform would target female Mongolian patients who wish to treat infertility and female cancers. In 2020, 17,918 patients from Mongolia visited South Korea to participate in the medical tourism program. The company will develop digital healthcare platforms for patients in Southeast Asia, Europe and North America.