500-bed facility estimated to cost 750 billion won
Discussions have begun in earnest on how to build up the healthcare system in the southwestern region of the Gwangju-South Jeolla Province integrated special city, an area passed over for a new national medical school. Establishing a branch of Chonnam National University Hospital is among the leading options under consideration, though questions over funding and long-term maintenance remain unresolved.
The integrated special city has been in talks with the central government on various support measures to address the healthcare imbalance in the southwestern region since Suncheon National University was selected Wednesday as the site for a new medical school.
For Mokpo, which lost its bid for a medical school, the plan calls for a new general hospital of university-hospital caliber with 500 beds, with the aim of dramatically improving the local healthcare system.
The integrated city had discussed bringing in a branch of the National Medical Center, and is also reviewing a plan to establish a branch of Chonnam National University Hospital, whose main hospital is in Gwangju. Building a 500-bed Chonnam National University Hospital branch is estimated to cost around 750 billion won ($552 million).
The integrated city is in talks with the government over whether to fund the hospital entirely through national funds or to contribute a portion from the city's own budget.
Also drawing attention is whether the branch would be linked to a new hospital that Chonnam National University Hospital plans to build at a cost of 1 trillion won.
Chonnam National University Hospital plans to build a new 1,500-bed facility. The plan calls for first constructing a 900-bed hospital on the Hakdong campus site, then remodeling the aging Buildings 1, 2, 3 and 5 into a 600-bed facility.
If the establishment of a Chonnam National University Hospital branch in Mokpo moves forward, it is expected to enable a regional medical network linking the branch with the main hospital in Gwangju.
To improve the poor healthcare infrastructure in the southwestern region, which includes many islands, the integrated city also plans to take over direct operation of Mokpo Medical Center, currently run by a basic local government, as part of broader public healthcare improvement measures.
On Sept. 8, the integrated city formed a southwestern regional development strategy TF headed by Deputy Mayor for Administrative and Cultural Affairs Hwang Ki-yeon. The TF has been preparing a development plan through four dedicated working groups covering healthcare system development, regional growth, social overhead capital and residential environment improvement, and university support.
A Chonnam National University Hospital branch had previously been pursued for the Yeosu campus when Chonnam National University and Yeosu University merged in 2005, but the plan fell through due to difficulties in securing funding.
"We plan to establish a university-hospital-level medical institution in the southwestern region to strengthen emergency care and build up the overall healthcare system," an integrated city official said. "We will consult closely with Mokpo and other local governments in the southwestern region to prepare a development plan that reflects the wishes of the community."
sij@heraldcorp.com
