Gyeongsangnam-do to Resume Medical Services on Hospital Ship from May... Touring Island Villages Without Medical Access

Gyeongsangnam-do Hospital Ship Gyeongnam 511ho

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jucheol In] The Gyeongsangnam-do hospital ship Gyeongnam 511 will resume mobile medical services to medically underserved island areas starting May 2.

To ensure safe navigation and improve the medical environment, Gyeongnam 511 underwent repairs and replacement of aging hull parts from the 4th, and also passed the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority's ship inspection (Type 2 intermediate inspection).

The ship inspection covers the hull, engine, and other ship equipment, as well as load line and radio equipment. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the hospital ship had repeatedly suspended and resumed medical services, and stopped operation in March for the ship inspection.

After maintenance and inspection, the hospital ship will resume monthly mobile medical visits to 49 island villages in 7 cities and counties within the province that lack health clinics and have no access to medical services.

The 37.7m long, 7.5m wide, 162-ton hospital ship carries 15 crew members including 4 public health doctors, 3 nurses, a captain, an engineer, and a navigator, providing internal medicine, dentistry, and Korean medicine services.

In internal medicine, chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are diagnosed and medications prescribed. The dental clinic, equipped with treatment chairs, offers tartar removal and resin treatments, as well as education on denture care. Korean medicine services include infrared therapy and acupuncture treatments.

Gyeongsangnam-do reported that last year, about 147,000 people used the hospital ship, with 86% of users aged 60 or older.

Baek Jong-cheol, head of the Gyeongsangnam-do Health Administration Division, said, “Island village residents are mostly elderly and have inconvenient transportation to the mainland, making timely medical care difficult. We will strive to provide high-quality public medical services to residents of island areas.”