The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) has recommended that relevant government ministries devise measures to support medical institutions with unpaid medical bills for providing mandatory treatment to unaccompanied foreign critical patients in accordance with the law.

According to the ACRC on Tuesday (July 29), a Chinese national identified as A entered South Korea on a tourist visa in September 2019, collapsed after working for nine days, and was later transferred to Hospital B in a coma in December of that year.

Subsequently, Hospital B could not refuse or discontinue treatment for patient A under mandatory treatment regulations stipulated by the Emergency Medical Service Act and the Medical Service Act, continuing care for about six years.

During that time, the unpaid medical bills accumulated to approximately 840 million won, but patient A's children and other family members back home expressed their inability to pay due to financial difficulties and submitted a waiver of treatment.

When a petition was filed by the representative of Hospital B in July of last year, the ACRC communicated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ulsan Metropolitan City to resolve the hospital bill and repatriation issues, but progress stalled due to current regulations and other problems, and patient A eventually passed away in April of this year.

Under these circumstances, it is reported that it is realistically difficult for Hospital B to be reimbursed for the unpaid medical bills from the government or the family.

Nevertheless, considering the possibility of similar damage recurring, the ACRC issued an opinion advising relevant agencies to prepare support measures addressing the repatriation and unpaid medical bill issues for unconscious, unaccompanied, and undocumented illegal resident foreign patients.

In response, Ulsan Metropolitan City decided to prepare administrative support manuals by department, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to actively pursue diplomatic efforts in the event of similar complaints.

An ACRC official pointed out, "While medical institutions are mandated to provide emergency and medical care for severe and long-term unaccompanied foreign patients, there is a high likelihood of similar damages recurring because there are no support systems related to the burden of unpaid medical bills and repatriation to their home countries."

(Photo: Yonhap News)