Jeollanam-do Focuses Administrative Efforts on Eliminating Medical Blind Spots for Foreign Residents

Presentation of Certificates for Designated Foreigner-Friendly Hospitals

Jeollanam-do held the 'Jeollanam-do Foreign Resident Medical Support Working Council' meeting on the 18th at the Jeonnam Immigration and Foreign Resident Comprehensive Support Center to discuss ways to eliminate medical blind spots for foreign residents and to cooperate in creating a more inclusive medical environment.

Jeollanam-do established the working council in June last year to build a medical support system that enables foreign residents to enjoy healthy lives within the local community. The council has been continuously seeking ways to eliminate medical blind spots through inter-agency cooperation and to connect various support projects.

The meeting was attended by representatives from 21 organizations and groups, including the Jeonnam Medical Association Volunteer Group, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch, the Korean National Tuberculosis Association Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch, public medical institutions and universities in Jeollanam-do, and private organizations.

In particular, starting this year, three private support organizations for foreigners in the Mokpo, Yeosu, and Gwangyang regions have joined the council, which is expected to further reflect field opinions from the private sector.

During the meeting, participants shared updates on each organization's medical support programs for foreign residents and discussed various collaborative initiatives, including the designation and operation of foreigner-friendly hospitals, mental health support for foreign workers, and medical expense support projects for foreign workers.

At the meeting, designation certificates were also presented to three institutions participating in the newly introduced 'Jeollanam-do Foreigner-Friendly Hospital' program: Suncheon Medical Center, Gangjin Medical Center, and Mokpo Medical Center.

So far, 62 medical institutions have applied to participate, and discussions are underway to include general hospitals and other facilities. Jeollanam-do expects that more medical institutions will join as foreigner-friendly hospitals, contributing to improved medical accessibility for foreign residents.

Jeollanam-do plans to further strengthen cooperation among related organizations, centered on the working council, and to expand policy support so that foreign residents can use medical services safely and with peace of mind.