Muan County in South Jeolla Province expressed regret over Mokpo National University's failure to be selected as a candidate for a new national medical school, urging the government and the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City to enhance healthcare infrastructure to address the healthcare gap in the southwestern region.
In a statement on August 31, Muan County noted, "We have long hoped for the establishment of a national medical school for the past 36 years to address healthcare imbalances and protect the lives and health of our residents," highlighting the community's sense of loss following the university's exclusion.
The county emphasized that discussions about the new medical school should focus on how to resolve the healthcare vulnerabilities in the southwestern region, rather than merely attracting a specific university.
According to Muan County, the southwestern region faces challenges such as a lack of maternity and emergency medical services, a high percentage of medically vulnerable populations, and numerous island areas, which complicate access to emergency patient transport and healthcare services.
The county explained that the need for a general hospital and improved healthcare conditions in the southwestern region has been consistently raised through government surveys and related research.
It stressed that even if a medical school and university hospital are established at Sunchon National University, the geographical conditions mean that the healthcare gap in the southwestern region will not be fully resolved.
Therefore, it argued that to ensure residents can receive adequate medical services without leaving the region during severe or emergency situations, there is a need to establish a general hospital with advanced critical care capabilities, as well as to expand essential public healthcare and medical education and research infrastructure.
Muan County's key demand is the establishment of a so-called 'regionally integrated healthcare system.'
This system aims to reduce the need for critically ill and emergency patients to travel long distances for treatment and to ensure that essential medical services are available locally, from basic care to critical treatment.
Kim San, the mayor of Muan County, stated, "I feel deep regret that the hopes of residents in the southwestern region, who have eagerly awaited the establishment of a national medical school for the past 36 years, have once again not come to fruition," adding, "The harsh medical reality in the southwestern region and the need for a general hospital have been confirmed through various government surveys and research studies."
He urged the government and the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City to swiftly establish a regionally integrated healthcare system so that residents can receive necessary medical services locally at critical moments.
Muan County plans to continue discussions with relevant agencies to demand measures to reduce regional healthcare disparities, including the expansion of essential public healthcare and strengthening the response system for critical and emergency medical care.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.