Consignment Contracts Signed with 4 Medical Institutions, Full Operation Scheduled from Late March
4 Types of Examinations, 1:1 Doctor Consultations, Health Classes, Medical Institution Specialized Examinations, Prescriptions
Busan City will officially operate the mobile healthcare service "Medical Bus" starting from the end of March.
This follows the selection of four medical institutions entrusted with the mobile medical bus project until 2026, and the signing of consignment contracts with these institutions on March 4.
The mobile medical bus project involves specialized medical staff traveling directly to medically underserved populations in a bus equipped with advanced medical equipment, providing professional examinations and health consultations.
To prevent the rapid increase in medical expenses in Busan, which has entered a super-aged society, the project visits vulnerable groups in medical blind spots who find it difficult to visit medical institutions for various reasons, offering professional examinations and consultations to check their health status.
The four medical institutions entrusted with the project are ▲Busan National University Hospital (Orthopedics and Psychiatry) ▲Maryknoll Hospital ▲Busan St. Mary's Hospital ▲Haeundae Bummin Hospital.
Busan National University Hospital will operate two medical buses, while the other three institutions will each operate one bus, totaling five buses providing services throughout the city.
Although the service contents vary slightly by institution, the basics include four types of basic examinations and one-on-one consultations with medical staff, along with health classes, institution-specific specialized examinations, and exercise prescriptions.
Notably, a new feature of this year's mobile medical bus project is the significant extension of the consignment period, allowing continuous service without interruption until December 31, 2026.
Previously, the project was operated on a yearly basis, which inevitably caused service interruptions during the selection process of executing institutions, disappointing citizens who desired continuous service.
From this year, the consignment period has been extended to three years, and the service will be continuously operated until 2026, excluding extreme heat or cold seasons when outdoor activities are difficult.
Through last year's mobile medical bus project, a total of 417 visits were made to 100 institutions, meeting 8,459 citizens, and a satisfaction survey conducted among them recorded a 97.1% satisfaction rate, successfully concluding the project.
Among the 8,459 citizens who used the service, 860 were advised by medical staff to visit hospitals or clinics, indicating that about 10% of the citizens required health promotion activities or treatment.
Citizen A (in their 80s), who had difficulty walking due to knee pain but was reluctant to undergo surgery, was recommended non-surgical treatment and customized exercise prescriptions through the medical institution, resulting in pain improvement.
Citizen B (in their 70s) was found to have abnormal symptoms in the abdomen through the medical bus examination and was advised to visit a nearby medical institution. Following the recommendation, B visited the institution and underwent detailed examinations, which led to early detection of cancer.
Lee Sora, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau of Busan City, stated, “The mobile medical bus project has met many citizens across Busan over the past three years and especially recorded a high satisfaction rate of 97.1% last year, establishing itself as Busan’s representative health management service. We ask for the active interest and participation of citizens in this mobile medical bus project, which will be continuously operated without interruption for three years until 2026.”
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