Daewoong Pharmaceutical Supports Sarcopenia and Fundus Screenings at Gangneung Asan Hospital

An employee of Gangneung Asan Hospital is undergoing a fundus examination using the fundus camera OPTiNA Genesis. Photo by Daewoong Pharmaceutical

Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on April 25 that, in collaboration with the Gangneung Asan Hospital Health Medical Center, it operated a "Special Health Check-up Day" on April 17 and 18, providing digital healthcare-based health screenings?including tests for sarcopenia and fundus examinations?for 185 employees aged 40 and above at the center.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical provided digital-based ophthalmology and sarcopenia screening devices for the employees participating in this check-up. For eye health screenings, the AI blindness disease diagnostic support solution "WISKY," which can diagnose the three major blinding diseases?diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma?at once, was used. Additionally, the fundus camera "OPTiNA Genesis," which captures the internal structures of the eye such as the retina, choroid, and optic nerve to diagnose and manage various ophthalmic diseases, was utilized.

In particular, thanks to the high-speed AI reading technology of "WISKY," approximately 180 examinees were able to complete their fundus examinations in just six hours. Considering that it was previously difficult to conduct large-scale screenings in such a short time using conventional methods, this is a representative example demonstrating how digital healthcare technology can dramatically improve efficiency and accessibility in the field.

For sarcopenia screening, the "AI Sarcopenia Diagnostic Device" based on Exosystems' digital biomarker (MFI) technology, which analyzes neuromuscular biosignals, was used.

This screening initiative was promoted as Gangneung Asan Hospital reviewed the feasibility of adopting digital devices to more conveniently and efficiently conduct items that were difficult to regularly operate within the existing health screening system. Although items such as sarcopenia and fundus examinations are important for the health of the elderly, conventional equipment required specialized personnel and lengthy examination times, which limited their application.

The Gangneung Asan Hospital Health Medical Center planned this pilot program by referencing the digital-based health screening case that Daewoong Pharmaceutical conducted for its employees earlier this year. Daewoong Pharmaceutical had previously conducted screenings for key health indicators such as sarcopenia and fundus diseases among its staff, and Center Director Hong Jongsam, after reviewing this case, directly assessed the feasibility of applying it in the hospital setting.

This project was planned as part of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's ESG management activities, aiming to contribute to public health by strengthening health management for middle-aged and older adults and improving access to medical care. The efficient health screening system that incorporates digital technology is being evaluated as a model that can provide practical benefits to both field workers and local hospitals.

Cho Byungha, Head of Digital Healthcare Business at Daewoong Pharmaceutical, stated, "We are pursuing the expansion of digital healthcare based on real-world validation, not just possessing technology, but through collaboration with hospitals and public institutions." He added, "We will continue to build a data-driven health management ecosystem that covers everything from disease prediction to post-management, contributing to innovation in medical services."