In Busan, a private-public consortium in South Korea announced their intention to build a blockchain-powered medical tourism platform. No deadline for launch is currently set.
According to Gyeongnam Ilbo, the initiative will be led by Busan Bank. They are looking to establish the platform within the second largest city of the country in terms of population. The group’s main goal is to strengthen the medical tourism sector.
The consortium includes Pusan National University Hospital, Dong-A University Hospital, Gosin University Gospel Hospital, Samyuk Busan Hospital, and payment brokerage company Knet Co. Ltd.
Banking services offered through the platform
The agreement states that local companies will join forces with the banking sector, specifically with Busan Bank, to launch a smartphone mobile app called “Regional Mobile Medical Tourism Platform.”
The banking institution intends to channel all medical tourism-based transactions through the blockchain-powered application— especially those seeking plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures. They intend to do this by offering currency exchange and account opening services.
The platform will also connect patients with medical institutions within Busan.
Boosting South Korea’s medical tourism across Asia
Bin Dae-in, Busan Bank’s executive, told the local media:
“The Busan Bank will actively cooperate to make Busan the best medical tourism specialty district in Korea. We will play a role in revitalizing the local medical tourism business.”
The medical tourism industry is becoming increasingly popular within the Asian continent. Recently, a major South Korean insurance firm, KB Insurance, announced its plans to implement a blockchain-enabled mobile message delivery system for its clients.
On June 10, Cointelegraph reported that South Korean merchants are open to accepting digital yuan as a payment method in the near future.