Ongjin-gun County (Governor Jang Jeong-min) partnered with Incheon St. Mary's Hospital to provide two days of free specialist medical care to residents of Yeonpyeong Island, an area with limited access to medical services, starting Sept. 3.
 [The Korean Today] Free checkup event at Yeonpyeong Island National Sports Center © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The checkups were carried out under a public-private cooperation project based on the "One Island-One Primary Hospital" agreement signed between Ongjin County and Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, and took place over two days, Sept. 3-4, at the Yeonpyeong-myeon National Sports Center.
Incheon St. Mary's Hospital dispatched a 16-member medical team, including doctors, pharmacists and nurses, to the island, running three departments intensively: cardiovascular thoracic surgery, emergency medicine and rehabilitation medicine.
At the treatment site, specialists provided medication prescriptions, ultrasound exams and nutritional intravenous treatment, while blood pressure and blood sugar measurements and one-on-one health consultations were also offered, forming a comprehensive medical service.
 [The Korean Today] Incheon St. Mary's Hospital medical staff examining residents © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
About 100 Yeonpyeong Island residents benefited from the free checkups. One resident who received treatment said, "It was a great help to be able to receive thorough specialist examination and treatment on the island without having to travel to a large hospital on the mainland."
Yeonpyeong Island and the other islands of the West Sea's five islands are cited as a prime example of a medically underserved area, being separated from the mainland, which means emergency transport or specialist care requires considerable time and cost. Incheon St. Mary's Hospital has been continuing regular medical volunteer services to the islands based on the One Island-One Primary Hospital agreement in consideration of these conditions.
An official from the Ongjin County Public Health Center said, "We will further strengthen cooperation with private specialist hospitals for island residents who have difficulty accessing medical care due to geographic and transportation conditions," adding, "We will continue to expand the outreach free medical service project."
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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