The controversy over the nation’s first for-profit hospital is finally over, with the government deciding to revoke the conditional approval of Greenland International Hospital.

Governor Won Heeryong stated that the hospital failed to meet conditions of approval and did not display enough effort to open within the required period of three months.

Mike Laidman reports.

Jeju Province has nullified the business license for Greenland International Hospital.

[slug] License of nation's first for-profit hospital revoked
[slug] Government cancels 4 months after approval

The license was canceled 22 days after a hearing to revoke the approval was held on March 26, and four months after the hospital’s business plans were conditionally approved on December 5 last year.

Recording
Won Heeryong / Governor
My office decided to nullify their license according to Article 64 of Medical Law as the hospital failed make an effort to open within the required time.
씽크)원희룡 제주특별자치도지사
개원을 위한 실질적인 노력도 없었다고 판단하고 의료법 64조에 따라 조건부 개설허가를 취소하기로 결정했습니다.

The province says the choice for the annulment was based on a written report from the chairperson of the hearing on canceling Greenland International Hospital’s license on April 12th.



The chairperson judged that the 15-month-long license approval delay and subsequent lawsuit Greenland filed to remove the limiting range of patients cannot be used as convincing reasons for the hospital’s failure to open.

He also submitted the opinion that even though Korean customers are not the hospital's target, Greenland still refused to open, citing the approval conditions.

He also says that the hospital failed to clarify its reasons for the absence of medical workers and to submit documents that prove its efforts to employ additional doctors, nurses, and nursing assistants.


Opinion of the Hearing Chairperson
-Delayed license approval, lawsuits insufficient grounds for delay
-Failure to operate on pretext of approval conditions
Korean patients not target customers
-Failure to clarify reasons for lack of medical workers
Insufficient evidence regarding recruitment efforts



[slug] Province: Greenland's request to extend deadline ‘unacceptable’

The province added that it suggested talks on the operation of the hospital with Greenland right after the business license was approved, but the hospital refused.

The province, therefore, emphasized that Greenland's request to extend its deadline for opening is unacceptable.

It announced that it is preparing to face possible lawsuits filed by Greenland and is consulting with the Jeju Free International City Development Center to normalize the Jeju Healthcare Town.

Recording
Won Heeryong / Governor
We will continue cooperative efforts with JDC and Greenland to normalize the Jeju Healthcare Town project.
씽크)원희룡 제주특별자치도지사
헬스케어타운이 제대로 된 기능을 가질 수 있도록 정상화 방안을 찾기 위해 JDC, 녹지측과 지속적으로 협의해 나가겠습니다.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Park Byeong-june

However, there still remains a high possibility that Greenland will lodge a compensation claim along with a suit to repeal its ban on domestic patients, which means that another round of legal battles is likely coming.

Mike Laidman, KCTV