Gyeongnam implements 'non-face-to-face island doctor' project

Gyeongnam Province is set to implement a "non-face-to-face island doctor" project, aiming to significantly improve medical accessibility for residents living on islands. This initiative is designed for communities that lack public health doctors and are not served by hospital ships, addressing critical gaps in healthcare access.

The project, scheduled to begin in mid-June and run until the end of August, will involve installing unmanned telemedicine kiosks in 44 islands across five municipalities: Changwon, Tongyeong, Geoje, Goseong, and Namhae. Residents will be instructed on how to use the kiosks to select a hospital and appointment time for a remote consultation. During the scheduled time, a doctor will connect via the kiosk's screen to examine and converse with the patient.

Following the consultation, prescriptions will be electronically transmitted to pharmacies, which will then deliver the medications directly to the patients. All costs associated with the consultations and medication delivery will be covered by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, local governments, and the Fisheries Cooperatives Foundation, ensuring no financial burden on the patients. This service is particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes, who require ongoing medication.

While the province has 80 inhabited islands across seven cities and counties, the project will initially focus on 44 islands that applied and do not have public health doctors or hospital ship access. Gyeongnam Province plans to gradually increase the number of kiosks on larger islands with multiple villages. Officials anticipate that the "non-face-to-face island doctor" project will substantially reduce the time and financial burdens for island residents, thereby enhancing their overall medical accessibility.

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The non-face-to-face island doctor project will greatly contribute to improving medical accessibility by reducing the time and economic burden for island residents.