Daegu City Builds Customized Medical and Healthcare 'Wellness Information Platform'

Full-Scale Launch of Wellness Industry in the 'Smart Wellness Regulatory Free Zone' Designated Last Year

System diagram of IoT-based wellness information service platform construction and demonstration project.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] Daegu City will officially launch the "IoT-based Wellness Information Service Platform Construction Project," which utilizes de-identified medical information for medical device development and medical services, starting from the 15th in the "Smart Wellness Regulatory Free Zone" designated in July last year.

Although there was a possibility that the demonstration could be difficult to proceed as originally planned due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Daegu City explained that by actively utilizing non-face-to-face means such as video conferencing, the demonstration has started according to the planned schedule.

Recently, the wellness industry is evolving into "personalized medical and healthcare" with the introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. However, related regulations such as the "Medical Service Act" have shown limitations in entering the advanced medical service market.

In particular, the Korea Testing Laboratory (hereinafter KTL) and Daegu Technopark (hereinafter Daegu TP), which had only conducted academic research and development using medical information due to restrictions under the "Medical Service Act," have shown active movements since the designation of the "Smart Wellness Regulatory Free Zone."

After preparatory work, various initial AI algorithm models (algorithm development platforms) necessary for developing IoT-based medical devices for industrial use have been derived, and the results are provided to companies, opening the way for wellness companies to utilize medical information. Through this, seven companies including Megagen Implant, participating in the special zone project, plan to develop medical device products equipped with AI algorithms provided by KTL and Daegu TP, processed and improved, and promote demonstrations of medical and home care services using related products.

For stable demonstration, medical information is de-identified according to conditions attached at the time of special exemption, and an appropriateness evaluation of de-identification was conducted through the Social Security Information Service. In addition, strict prior procedures related to safety, such as user notification about the project and self-inspection by Daegu City's Safety Inspection Committee, were implemented, and all companies and hospitals participating in the demonstration were required to subscribe to liability insurance for user protection (personal information protection liability insurance) in preparation for any emergencies.

Daegu City explained that this project is expected to serve as a basis for the establishment of medical data utilization guidelines and policy formulation by relevant ministries in the future by coordinating the appropriateness level of de-identification measures for medical information and demonstrating utilization methods.

Baek Donghyun, Director of Innovation Growth Bureau of Daegu City, said, "Through the Smart Wellness Regulatory Free Zone, we will strive to expand the wellness industry from diagnosis and treatment-centered to prevention, prediction, and precision personalized medical services through the convergence of the medical health industry and ICT technology."

Meanwhile, the Daegu Smart Wellness Regulatory Free Zone is also preparing for the "Development of Medical Devices Applying Human-Derived Collagen" in August this year, "Smart Clinical Trial and Management Platform Demonstration," and the "Establishment of Advanced Medical Device Joint Manufacturing Center" scheduled for January next year.