The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will start accepting applications for the 2023 “Korean Accreditation Program for Hospitals Serving Foreign Patients (KAHF)” certification.

The government started the KAHF program in 2017 to certify excellent hospitals and clinics so that foreign patients can receive higher-quality medical services.

The health and welfare ministry, together with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation (KOIHA), evaluates medical institutions that have applied for certification to attract foreign patients.

The evaluation criterion includes foreigner-friendly services such as multilingual consultation, interpretation service, and infection control.

The MOHW said that KAHF serves to improve the quality of medical services and create a safe, high-quality medical environment through a set of systematic processes in services provided to foreign patients by medical institutions and ensuring that standards are followed at all times in the services offered.

Notably, with the revision and implementation of the Medical Overseas Expansion Act in December of last year, the certification validity period has been increased from two years to four years.

The health ministry will also give out a one-year conditional certification for organizations that do not meet the certification standards at the time of evaluation but have promised to improve such standards over time.

KAHF-certified hospitals and clinics can use the certification mark for four years.

Also, the health ministry plans to grant KAHF-accredited institutions benefits, such as receiving government help for domestic and overseas public relations activity and preferential selection for international medical projects.

Foreigners who wish to view KAHF-accredited hospital list can do so at the Visit Medical Korea website.