A patient undergoes a breast implant surgery at a hospital in Hefei, Anhui Province. (Photo : Reuters)
China and South Korea have agreed to jointly set up an accreditation platform for South Korean surgeons, as announced at a press briefing on March 19, Thursday, by the China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics (CAPA) under the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
The China Daily cited a report by an industry watchdog which showed that the number of botched operations and disputes have increased by 10 to 15 percent annually, but despite this, South Korea continues to be a very popular destination for many Chinese seeking cosmetic surgery.
The report also cited official statistics released by South Korea which revealed that about 56,000 Chinese had plastic surgery, while 70,000 underwent medical examinations in South Korea last year.
Around 30 new aesthetic and medical clinics also opened in China, the report added.
Zhang Bin, president of the CAPA, told the Being Times that the opening of the accreditation platform would provide Chinese patients with information on the qualifications of South Korean cosmetic surgeons as well knowledge about how competent South Korean hospitals are.
Zhang added that out of the tens of thousands of plastic surgeons in South Korea, only about 1,500 are legally registered, with varied ranges of qualifications.
According to the CAPA president, the rise in cases of disputes may be attributed to language barriers and illegal mediators, as he called on police authorities and business to intensify government crackdown on illegal organizations in the industry.
Zhang added that court cases involving failed medical procedure are complex and often expensive for victims. He also warned Chinese clients to take caution before making final decisions in choosing medical institutions and plastic surgeons.
