Korea received the "Medical Tourism Destination of the Year" award during the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) Medical Travel Summit 2019, held in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 2. This is the second consecutive year that Korea has received the award, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) said on Monday.

During the conference, KHIDI also received the "Best Medical Travel Website" award.

"The government's policy supports to increase the safety and convenience of overseas patients and the KHIDI's efforts to attract international patients have helped the country recognized as a global medical tourism destination," a KHIDI official said.

In addition to attracting foreign patients, KHIDI will continue to spread the value of co-prosperity and sharing to the international community for Korea to remain a global medical tourism leader."

In conferring the award, an IMTJ decision panel said, "Korea has differentiated itself from other countries by strengthening its competitiveness, such as innovations in medical technology, infrastructure improvements, and contributions to the international community."

These efforts attracted 380,000 foreign patients last year, and has made the country an attractive medical tourism destination with high satisfaction for overseas patients, it added.

IMTJ Medical Travel Summit is a global medical tourism conference, hosted by IMTJ. The event is participated in by 250 organizations from 40 countries, including KHIDI, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Apollo Clinic, and Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, to discuss new issues in the global medical tourism market and strategies for attracting foreign patients.

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