Fatima Hospital

Well I have managed a fairly incredible run of health these past few years in Daegu, but inevitably, one needs to see a doctor. Now for most people this is easy but time consuming and expensive, in Korea it is the other way round. Finding a doctor that communicates in a language other than Korean is very hard. Most can write and read English very well (how could you read medical journals if you couldn't?), but speaking and reading are two VERY different skills (I can read Korean quite well with comprehension, can still barely speak in it). So when my knee was hurt running and a minor cyst needs removing it can be a bit stressful.

Will recommended Fatima hospital, just a short walk from Dongdaegu Station, which has an international centre and all the facilities you'd need. I went and was very impressed. My knee issue was solved in an hour and my cyst will be removed within a week (they had wanted to do it within 48 hours but I couldn't get the time off of work). The nurses all spoke English very well and could not have been more kind and helpful.

I am continually impressed with Korea's health system, which puts most western ones to shame. With my insurance (of $50/month) I paid a grand total of 29000 won (about $28) for three visits to two doctors, an xray and prescription medication. The operation will be under $100 if I don't need to be admitted, and my understanding in that most people get this kind of procedure done on a lunch break or afternoon off. Luckily I didn't need an MRI for my knee, as apparently they can be $300-400 (but can be done in 24 hours).

Medical tourism is one area where Korea will excel. Very efficient and not expensive at all. Without insurance the whole thing would still have run me under $250 plus $150 for the cyst removal. On the day I was there there were several Russians and a few Europeans (not sure what language they were speaking, but not English or French) all in Korea for surgeries and procedures. I don't really have anything else wrong with me but with the fee's and efficiency at Fatima I may have a more general checkup later in the year. If you don't want to pay extortionate US prices or wander through 15 referrals and three month wait lists in Canada or Europe, Korea becomes a real option for you. I was thoroughly impressed with Fatima.