Gumi City, First Inpatient Hospice Ward Established at Gangdong Hospital, the First Medical Institution in the Area

Designated Hospice Specialist Institution Approved by Ministry of Health and Welfare, Operating 10 Beds

Ensuring Dignity and Comfort for Terminal Patients, Improving Quality of Life for Patients and Families

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk held an opening ceremony on the 17th as Gumi Gangdong Hospital became the first medical institution in the city to be designated as an ‘Inpatient Hospice Specialized Institution’ by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Opening of Hospice Ward at Gumi Gangdong Hospital.

The event was attended by Mayor Kim Jang-ho, Director Shin Jae-hak of Gumi Gangdong Hospital, Chairman Ahn Joo-chan of the City Council, Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly member Kim Chang-hyuk, City Council members Chu Eun-hee, Kim Geun-han, and So Jin-hyuk, who celebrated the opening. The Gumi City Nurses Association, hospice, and religious organization leaders also attended to brighten the occasion.

Gumi Gangdong Hospital operated a hospice ward on a pilot basis for about 11 months from April 2023 to the end of February 2024 to improve the quality of life for 30 patients and their families. In January 2024, it received excellent scores in the Central Hospice Center evaluation and was designated as a specialized institution by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on February 22.

An inpatient hospice specialized institution provides care and professional palliative medical services to terminal patients admitted to the ward, alleviating the suffering of patients and their families and ensuring a dignified end of life. Currently, there are 104 inpatient hospice specialized institutions nationwide, with six hospitals in Gyeongbuk operating hospice beds.

As the only Ministry of Health and Welfare-designated specialized institution in Gumi, the hospice team at Gumi Gangdong Hospital consists of a total of 10 members, including one specialist, eight nurses, and one social worker. With an annual government subsidy of 30 million KRW, they plan to provide more convenient medical services to patients.

Following the establishment of essential pediatric medical systems such as the ‘365 Pediatric and Adolescent Medical Center’ and the ‘Gumi+ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,’ Gumi City plans to expand end-of-life medical support infrastructure for citizens. By collaborating with private medical institutions, the city aims to present medical alternatives that cover all generations, addressing the collapsed local medical gap.

Additionally, through the Gumi Public Health Center and others, over 1,000 citizens have already completed advance directives for life-sustaining treatment this year, and active guidance on the life-sustaining treatment decision system is ongoing.

Director Shin Jae-hak of Gumi Gangdong Hospital said, “It is very meaningful to be the first medical institution in Gumi to be designated as a hospice specialized institution and to provide palliative medical services to citizens. We will wholeheartedly assist patients to beautifully conclude their final moments and contribute to the development of medical services in Gumi City.”

Mayor Kim Jang-ho stated, “Thank you for your efforts at Gumi Gangdong Hospital to reduce the suffering of terminal patients and their families. I hope the quality of life for terminal cancer patients and their families improves, and the city will make active and continuous efforts to establish a local medical system.”