Samsung Medical Center
Ankylosing spondylitis treatment cost in the Republic of Korea typically involves specialized imaging like a spine X-ray, which ranges from $100 to $200, and ongoing physiotherapy running from $100 to $300 per session. Expenses depend on the disease stage and the need for biologic therapies. Patients can expect 30-50% savings compared to the US. Most advanced care is centered in Seoul, Busan, and Incheon.
Typical Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment Costs in Republic of Korea
Bookimed Expert Insight: Multidisciplinary care is essential for managing systemic inflammation and mobility. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) is ideal for complex diagnostics. It utilizes the BESTcare system to minimize medical errors during long-term treatment. For patients focused on specialized musculoskeletal recovery, Kang Dong Hospital in Busan offers a world-renowned multi-pronged orthopedic approach. Large centers like Severance Hospital provide JCI-accredited safety standards for international patients.
| Republic of Korea | Turkey | Austria | |
| Physiotherapy | from $100 | from $50 | from $600 |
| Stem cell therapy for ankylosing spondylitis | - | from $7,000 | from $20,000 |
| Biological therapy | - | from $5,500 | from $20,000 |
Dr. Ahn Tae Hoon trained at Montreal Heart Institute and leads the Cardiovascular Center at Naeun Hospital.
Director of the Orthopedic Center at Naeun Hospital – specializes in joint disorders and arthroscopic surgery.
Dr. Jang Hyo Kim is an orthopedic surgeon focused on joint preservation and complex reconstruction. He specializes in arthroscopy of the shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist. He performs joint replacement of the shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, and hip. His spine work includes cervical and lumbar instrumentation and fusion. He also performs discectomy, laminectomy, neuroplasty, and vertebroplasty. His practice includes fracture care and muscle and ligament repair.
He is an Adjunct Professor at Kyung Hee University. He serves as Director of the Joint Center at Very Good Hospital. He previously served as chief or director at Yeonggwang General, Songjeong Sarang, Sewoori–Daejeon, Seoul Welfare, and The Barun hospitals. He was an advisory member of the Gwangju–Jeonnam Workers’ Compensation Board. He is a full member of the Korean Orthopaedic Association (KOA) and the Korean Societies of Arthroscopy, Knee, Sports Medicine, Hip, Pain, and Obesity. He holds TPI therapy certification. He completed an Ilizarov fellowship in Kurgan, Russia. He also completed training in shoulder arthroscopy.
The doctor is a leading neurologist in South Korea, specializing in epilepsy treatment. Currently, the doctor serves as the Head of the Neurology Department at Yonsei Severance Hospital.
The doctor graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine and is an active member of several professional organizations, including The Korean Epilepsy Society, The Korean Neurological Association, and The Korea Medical Association.
South Korea National Health Insurance covers biologics for ankylosing spondylitis under the Rare Intractable Disease program. Patients typically pay only 10% of treatment costs. Coverage requires specific clinical criteria like active sacroiliitis on imaging and failure of conventional therapies after 3 months.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients should prioritize university hospitals like Severance or Asan Medical Center for initial biologic approval. These academic centers manage high patient volumes and have streamlined systems for RID registration. Major facilities also utilize digital systems like BESTcare to track treatment history and prevent documentation errors during appeals.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that documenting every medication failure is vital for insurance approval. Many find that while initial drug costs seem high, the 10% co-pay cap makes long-term biologic therapy affordable.