Jinju City Council Member Kim Hyungseok Proposes Dental Hospital for People with Disabilities Linked to Jinju Medical Center

Emphasis on the need for a specialized hospital
to close gaps in oral care for people with developmental and severe disabilities

The Jinju City Council in South Gyeongsang Province has officially raised the need to introduce a specialized dental hospital for people with developmental disabilities and severe disabilities.

At the 271st second plenary session of the Jinju City Council, Kim Hyungseok, a member of the Economic and Welfare Committee representing Gaho-dong, Cheonjeon-dong, and Seongbuk-dong, argued in a five-minute free speech that "a dental hospital dedicated to people with developmental disabilities and severe disabilities should be established in connection with the construction of Jinju Medical Center."

Photo of Kim Hyungseok, member of the Economic Welfare Committee of Jinju City Council

Assemblyman Kim pointed out, "People with disabilities have difficulty managing oral hygiene and receiving dental treatment, so the incidence of dental caries and periodontal disease is higher than among people without disabilities," adding, "In particular, children and adolescents with developmental disabilities find it difficult to receive treatment at general dental clinics because of communication disorders and hypersensitivity to unfamiliar environments."

He also explained that, in the case of people with severe disabilities, muscle rigidity and inability to communicate make even toothbrushing difficult, which places a heavy burden on their families, and that oral diseases are being neglected and leading to systemic complications due to the burden of treatment costs and problems with access to care.

Currently, people with disabilities in Jinju have to travel 70 to 90 minutes to reach Yangsan Pusan National University Dental Hospital, the regional hub in South Gyeongsang Province, and their caregivers face the difficulty of having to spend an entire day for each visit. In response, Assemblyman Kim stressed, "Even if it means accepting a so-called 'good deficit,' we must introduce a dedicated dental hospital at Jinju Medical Center to close the welfare blind spots."

He proposed the introduction of operating rooms for general anesthesia and sedation treatment and a specialized hospital for intractable dental caries and implants, linkage with oral care programs at local public health centers and welfare centers, and the establishment of a one-stop support system that connects initial screening with specialized treatment.

Assemblyman Kim concluded his remarks by saying, "We must build a Jinju where people with developmental disabilities and severe disabilities can live smiling lives without worrying about oral diseases, and a welfare city where people with disabilities and their families can feel reassured without undue burden."