Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital will relocate its core Rheumatism Center to the main hospital after 12 years since its opening.
According to Chonnam National University Hospital on January 17, the Rheumatism and Degenerative Arthritis Public Specialized Medical Center (hereafter referred to as the Rheumatism Center) at Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital will move to the main hospital in Hak-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju this March.
The Rheumatism Center, comprising the Department of Rheumatology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, has been a core department at Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital. The main reason for relocating this core function is cited as chronic financial deficits.
Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital opened on February 5, 2014, with about 120 medical staff and 216 beds, located within the Senior Health Town in Node-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju.
A total of 6.57 billion won was invested, including 2.5 billion won from the national government, 1.1 billion won from the city, and 2.97 billion won from the hospital’s own budget.
Although the number of departments increased from 11 at the time of opening to 20, and the hospital was upgraded to a general hospital in 2020, it has continued to suffer annual deficits of several tens of billions of won.
The main factors cited include poor transportation despite the hospital’s focus on geriatric diseases, a lack of patients even with the increased number of departments, and medical fees that were not aligned until the hospital was upgraded to a general hospital. To make matters worse, costs rose significantly due to conflicts between the medical staff and administration.
Some observers suggest that the relocation of core medical functions to the main hospital is a measure to address these ongoing financial deficits. However, Chonnam National University Hospital explained that this is not a reduction in functions, but rather a "reallocation of functions."
The main hospital will handle high-difficulty surgeries and critical care, while Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital will be upgraded as a public healthcare hub center focused on prevention, follow-up care, and patient support.
The hospital also expects that, since most patients visiting the Rheumatism Center are elderly with a high rate of comorbidities, relocating the center will resolve the previous inconvenience of having to travel back and forth to the main hospital for other treatments.
After the Rheumatism Center’s relocation, Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital will continue to provide care in departments such as Geriatric Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology, and Gastroenterology.
Additionally, the hospital plans to establish a "Clinical Education and Training Center" equipped with mock operating rooms and simulation facilities to provide hands-on training opportunities for (future) medical professionals. It also aims to set up an Integrated Health Screening Center, a Public Health Medical Project Group, and secure dedicated wards for infectious diseases.
A representative from Chonnam National University Hospital stated, "This is not a reduction of the hospital’s functions, but a reallocation to enhance patient safety and convenience," adding, "Through this, Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital will serve as a hub center for regional public healthcare."
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