Bucheon expands medical cooperation with Indonesia to attract foreign patients

Bucheon has stepped up cooperation with Indonesian medical institutions as the city works to attract foreign patients and help local hospitals expand overseas.

Mayor Jo Yong-ik visited Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri in Jakarta on Friday to discuss medical exchange and cooperation with local healthcare officials.

The visit included hospital directors and officials from nine Bucheon medical institutions, among them Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital and Catholic University of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, with 13 representatives joining the delegation in total.

The Bucheon delegation held 128 consultations with local medical, tourism and business officials and signed seven MOUs.

Through the consultations, the city aims to build a cooperation network in Indonesia's medical and tourism sectors and lay the groundwork for local hospitals to enter overseas markets and draw foreign patients.

"This visit confirmed the potential for cooperation between Bucheon's medical institutions and those in Jakarta," Jo said. "We will work to expand our network with local medical institutions and related organizations, raise awareness of Bucheon's medical services and turn that into real growth in foreign patient numbers."