The Ministry of Health and Welfare has selected sports medicine as the medical technology that represents Gangwon Province where PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be held next year.

The ministry said Monday it is part of the 13 projects in 13 provinces and large cities aimed to develop medical technology that can take the lead in developing these autonomous regions this year.

The project to promote medical technology in each province is intended to diversify channels to lure foreign patients, by finding out medical technology with high potentials in regions and combining them with their cultural and tour resources. The ministry has implemented the policy since 2010 and provided support for the development of models to attract foreign patients, the establishment of infrastructures, marketing, and public relations.

The number of applications for the project this year doubled that of 2016 to 22, reflecting high interests and firm intention to attract foreign patients. The successful applicants also increased from eight to 13 over the cited period.

The 13 businesses selected this year are: sports medicine related to PyeongChang Winter Olympics for Gangwon Province; infertility treatment for Seoul; respiratory disease treatment for North Chungcheong Province; treatment for complicated and severe diseases such as cancer for South Chungcheong Province; surgical operation for South Gyeongsang Province; integrated treatment by Western and oriental medicines for North Jeolla Province; spine and joint treatment for Busan; exophthalmos correction technology for Daegu; implant for Gwangju; minimal invasive surgery for Gyeonggi Province; spine treatment for North Gyeongsang Province; comprehensive medical checkup for Daejeon; and wellness in Jeju Province.

This year the ministry put its evaluation focus on medical technology and medical products specialized in each province. It also selected new regional technology and Winter Olympics-related medical tourism model, raising expectations.

“We hope the project to promote regional medical technology will contribute to revitalizing medical tours to each province,” said a ministry official. “We will also share successful examples to lure foreign patients, through consulting, interim monitoring, and briefing session on success as well as develop relationships between the central and local governments to lure more foreign patients.”