Gyeongnam Hospital Ship 'Gyeongnam 511' Sets Sail for 2026, Begins Medical Services for Island Residents

The hospital ship 'Gyeongnam 511', which travels around island villages in Gyeongnam Province to reach residents in medically underserved areas, began its 2026 round of medical visits on January 7.

Known as the 'small hospital on the sea', Gyeongnam 511 set sail from Tongyeong Port on this day to visit island residents in Udo, Yeondaedo, Manjido, Jeodo, and other islands in Tongyeong City.

This year, the ship plans to provide healthcare to 2,379 residents in 51 villages across 41 islands in seven cities and counties-Changwon, Tongyeong, Sacheon, Geoje, Goseong, Namhae, and Hadong-where there are no public health clinics or where villages are far from health centers.

Gyeongnam Province hospital ship 'Gyeongnam 511' is setting sail for its first round of mobile medical services in 2026. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

Onboard Gyeongnam 511 are public health doctors who provide general medical care-including internal medicine, surgery, and dermatology-as well as dental and traditional Korean medicine services.

They will treat common illnesses and chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, conduct psychological assessments and counseling at the mobile mental health center, screen for dementia, and provide free flu vaccinations, offering comprehensive healthcare management.

The Gyeongnam Province hospital ship was built in August 2003 and has since been responsible for the health of residents across 41 islands in seven cities and counties in the province.

As the vessel aged, the cost of repairs increased and limitations in providing medical services emerged, prompting Gyeongnam Province to begin a replacement hospital ship construction project in 2023.

The new hospital ship, which cost 15 billion won to build, will have a total tonnage of 290 tons, measure 49.9 meters in length and 8.4 meters in width, and will be equipped not only with general examination rooms but also with facilities such as a physical therapy room and a clinical pathology lab.

The province plans to launch the new hospital ship in 2027.

Jung Gukjo, Director of Health Administration, stated, "This year as well, we will do our utmost to ensure that residents of medically vulnerable island areas can stably receive healthcare services through the operation of the hospital ship," adding, "With the launch of the new hospital ship in 2027, we will further enhance the quality of public healthcare in island regions."