Jeju Island Establishes 'Remote Collaborative Diagnosis' System for Medically Underserved Areas

Agreement Signed with 48 Health Clinics
"Expecting Strengthened Routine Health Management for Local Residents"

On the morning of the 22nd, Jeju Province held a business agreement ceremony with 11 advisory medical institutions, including Jeju National University Hospital, at Tamna Hall in the provincial government office. Photo by Jeju Province

The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has established a cooperative system with major medical institutions in the province to improve medical accessibility for residents in medically underserved areas.

On the morning of the 22nd, Jeju Province signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for Mutual Cooperation in the Remote Medical Consultation Project for Medically Underserved Areas" with 11 advisory medical institutions, including Jeju National University Hospital, at Tamna Hall in the provincial government office. The partner hospitals are Jeju National University Hospital, Seogwipo Medical Center, Jeju Medical Center, Jeju Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, Tapdong 365 Clinic, Andeok Clinic, Daejeong Union Clinic, Namwon Clinic, Dongnam Clinic, Saegimnyeong Clinic, and Aewoljeong Clinic.

This agreement is significant as it lays the foundation to expand the remote medical consultation project to all 48 health clinics in the province starting January next year. The remote consultation project utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) to provide specialized medical services and health management to patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

Residents will be able to receive specialist consultations through a video system at nearby health clinics and use one-stop medical services including prescriptions and medication guidance. Jeju Province and the advisory medical institutions expect that this agreement will enable them to provide more diverse and high-quality medical services to residents in areas with limited medical accessibility.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, Jeju National University Hospital Director Choi Guk-myeong, Seogwipo Medical Center Director Park Hyun-soo, Jeju Medical Center Director Lee Sang-hoon, Jeju Regional Rehabilitation Hospital Director Lee Gwang-hyun, Tapdong 365 Clinic Director Kim Hyung-jun, Jeju Provincial Chapter President of the Korean Senior Citizens Association Kim In-soon, Jeju City Health Clinic Association President Seo Ju-ran, and officials from local health centers.

Governor Oh Young-hoon said, "After observing the remote medical consultation project for medically underserved areas, which has been in operation since last September, I am confident that the regular use of medical services by the elderly will greatly contribute to health promotion," and expressed expectations that "the daily health management of residents in medically underserved areas will be further strengthened."

Representatives of the advisory medical institutions emphasized, "We will actively cooperate to ensure that the remote consultation project provides practical help to local residents," and added, "We hope this will serve as an opportunity to establish a customized health management system tailored to regional characteristics."