Shinan County Assigns 54 Public Health Doctors to 14 Towns and Villages

Six Islands Including Gageodo and Hongdo,
Designated as Medically Underserved Areas

Shinan County in Jeonnam Province announced on the 16th that it has assigned a total of 54 public health doctors, including 32 new recruits, in order to minimize medical service gaps and improve the health of local residents.

The newly appointed public health doctors include 13 physicians, 11 dentists, and 8 Korean medicine doctors. They have been placed in 14 towns and villages. In six island areas with limited access to medical care, such as Gageodo and Hongdo, two doctors have been assigned to ensure rapid response to emergencies that may occur at night or on weekends.

Exterior view of Shinan County Office

In particular, the 13 doctors assigned this year have completed more than three years of residency training and are expected to greatly contribute to strengthening emergency medical response and improving the quality of medical services in Shinan County.

Compared to last year, the number of newly assigned public health doctors has decreased by two physicians and one Korean medicine doctor, while the number of dentists has increased by one. To minimize any inconvenience to residents, mobile clinics will operate two to three times a week, and telemedicine services will be provided during other periods to address any medical service gaps.

An official from the county public health center stated, "The role of public health doctors is crucial in addressing health issues caused by medical blind spots and an aging population in the region, and in improving the quality of public healthcare services." The official also asked, "We hope that the doctors will do their best to ensure there are no gaps in medical care."