Goryeong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, is implementing the third year of the ‘Village Doctor Project,’ which provides customized health care services every month at village halls for medically underserved villages with poor access to medical institutions.
The Village Doctor Project is a major pledge of the 8th local government administration aimed at realizing welfare happiness for all, and the first year of the project began in 2023.
Goryeong-gun is providing internal medicine consultations as part of the village doctor project. Photo by Goryeong-gun
Until last year, a team of professionals including public health doctors and visiting nurses regularly visited a total of 60 villages to conduct basic examinations, medical treatment, and health consultations, receiving positive responses from residents.
Starting this year, the third year of the project, in addition to the existing medical services, the program will be expanded and designed to comprehensively manage residents’ physical and mental health by strengthening a prevention-centered local health system through initiatives such as ‘Our Village Health Keeper Education’ and ‘Mutual Dementia Prevention Program.’
The Village Doctor Project plans to select 30 medically underserved villages each year and continue for a total of four years. It is expected that 120 out of the 153 villages in Goryeong-gun, which have low accessibility to transportation and medical institutions, will benefit from the program.
A resident of Deokgok-myeon who participated in last year’s project said, “There is a traditional Korean medicine doctor at the Deokgok Health Center, but it was difficult to get there, so I hesitated every time and couldn’t receive treatment. I am really grateful that they come to the village hall to provide treatment.”
County Governor Namcheol Lee said, “The Village Doctor Project focuses not only on medical treatment but also on establishing a continuous and integrated health management system based on trust with residents. We will do our best to help residents in medically underserved areas enjoy healthier lives.”
This project is expected to greatly contribute not only to improving the health of local residents but also to resolving health disparities between regions.
Goryeong County is conducting nutrition education as part of its village doctor project. Photo by Goryeong County
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