Meeting with Mayor Kang Gijung: Sharing Local Care Cases
"Universal Access and Customized Linkage... To Be Reflected in Nationwide Implementation"
"Government Support and Delivery System Establishment Must Go Hand in Hand"
Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eunkyung visited Gwangju, Jeonnam on the 6th to inspect the progress of the pilot project for integrated medical and nursing care and to listen to on-site opinions. Provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Yonhap News Agency
Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eunkyung visited Gwangju on August 6 to inspect the Gwangju integrated care site, which is being operated as a leading example ahead of the nationwide implementation of the "Integrated Support Act for Regional Care Including Medical and Nursing Care" scheduled for March next year.
On the afternoon of the same day, Minister Jung attended the "Care Policy Field Meeting" held in the main conference room at Gwangju City Hall together with Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung. After the meeting, she visited local sites such as the Buk-gu Ochi Complex Community Center and Buk-gu Public Health Center. The purpose of this visit was to review Gwangju City's care policies and implementation system, as well as the progress of the national primary care physician system.
During the meeting, Gwangju City's case of operating "Gwangju-style Integrated Care" and the "Pilot Project for Integrated Support of Medical, Nursing, and Care Services" as a unified system to establish a regionally customized care model was introduced. Examples of care activities by district were also shared. Dong-gu presented its community care for middle-aged single-person households; Seo-gu introduced its model linking the public health center with an integrated health center; Nam-gu reported on support for socially isolated households; Buk-gu presented its public-private partnership care-specialized village; and Gwangsan-gu introduced the "K-Gwangsan Care Companion" case, a model combining medical and residential support.
Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eunkyung is greeting Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung at Gwangju City Hall on the 6th. Photo by Gwangju City
Minister Jung and Mayor Kang visited the Buk-gu Ochi Complex Community Center to review the six-stage process of integrated care, which includes identifying eligible individuals, counseling, planning, integrated support meetings, service linkage, and monitoring. They then moved to the Buk-gu Public Health Center to check the progress of the national primary care physician system.
Minister Jung stated, "I was able to directly confirm how thoroughly integrated care is being implemented on the ground in Gwangju," and added, "We will fully incorporate on-site experience and operational know-how from Gwangju so that its case can serve as a model for nationwide implementation."
Mayor Kang said, "I hope that Gwangju's experience will become a turning point for its spread across the country," and requested, "As the system is implemented nationwide, I ask the government to support the establishment of a local delivery system, provide budget support based on local government autonomy, and join in a joint declaration to promote care democracy."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
