Busan, where 23% of the population is elderly, is the only metropolitan city to become a super-aging society.
Amid the crisis of hyper-aging, the demand for local medical care is bound to continue to increase, but the reality is that the medical system is concentrated in the metropolitan area.
Concerns are continuing to increase the capacity of local medical services and prevent the gap in the growing medical demand.
This is reporter Hwang Bo-ram.
Han Jeong-suk, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, continued to experience severe chest pain last August.
Although he received treatment at a local hospital, Mr. Han felt that his body was not recovering and went to Busan for treatment.
After a thorough examination, I was diagnosed with stage 4 gallbladder cancer and underwent surgery immediately at a general hospital in Busan.
The cancer cells had metastasized, making surgery difficult, but the result was successful.
{Han Jeong-suk/Stage 4 gallbladder cancer surgery patient (UAE resident)/”I think I did the best job (coming to Busan). When I landed at Incheon Airport, I found a hospital in Seoul because I could stay in Seoul, and I thought Busan was playing a big role. Since it is a city, I believe there will be medical (capacity)…”}
Unlike in the metropolitan area, quick surgery was possible and intensive care by medical staff was added.
{Park Gwang-min/Chief of Gamdam Pancreatic Surgery, Centum General Hospital/”What about ‘cancer’? You need to operate quickly. It takes 50 days for the cancer to double in size. It takes between 50 and 150 days, but it happens as quickly as possible. In 50 days, the cancer is gone. It’s doubling in size, so we have to do something quickly.”}
Such competitive local medical care is the answer to preventing the outflow of patients to the metropolitan area, a chronic problem.
In particular, in Busan, which became the first metropolitan city to become a super-aging society, strengthening the capacity of local medical care is even more important because the demand for medical care is bound to continue to increase.
Amid the hyper-aging crisis, discussions on the future of regional healthcare took place at the Regional Medical Decentralization Forum.
Local alternatives were presented, such as strengthening the remote*at-home medical system specialized for the elderly.
{Kim Gwang-jun/Professor, Department of Geriatric Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Hospital/”You can’t know what services to provide to those people (elderly people) unless you put yourself in their shoes.”}
{Lee Dong-woo/Professor, Institute for Aging Society, Korea University/”In the United States, 5,000 medical institutions have already signed up for the age-friendly (American aging policy) health system. So, I applied these aspects to Busan City as well. ..”}
In addition, the largest medical device exhibition in the Yeongnam region was also held, showcasing a variety of domestic and foreign medical devices incorporating the latest technology.
{Jeon Seong-cheol/Director of Busan Techno Park Medical Industry Technology Support Center/”With the advent of a super-aging society in Busan, you can experience products and technologies that enable various experiences and services that incorporate digital technology.” }
The Regional Medical Decentralization Forum, which seeks solutions for local medical care in the super-aging society, will be recorded and broadcast on KNN on the 30th.
This is KNN Hwang Bo-ram.
