Jeju ​Island Launches Pilot Project for Health Doctor System

The Jeju-style health ‌doctor pilot project promotion committee was⁤ launched on the 28th. Provided by Jeju Island

Jeju⁢ Island has taken a significant step towards introducing a health⁣ doctor system, with the goal of implementing a⁣ pilot project in July‌ next year. The Jeju-style health doctor pilot project promotion committee, comprising ⁢24 members from the medical community, academia, provincial council, healthcare community, and civil society organizations,⁤ was launched at ⁢Halla Hall​ in the provincial office on the 28th.

The primary care physician system is a method in ​which community residents use‌ medical services while maintaining an ongoing relationship with their ⁣primary care physician. The attending physician is responsible for the overall health of the resident, from chronic disease management to disease prevention.

The ⁤health doctor system envisioned ‌by Jeju Island is a plan to designate⁤ a ⁤primary care doctor for the ⁢elderly and children over 65 years old and living in rural areas, which are medically underserved ⁤areas, so that‌ they can receive medical ​care and‍ treatment. ‌If a doctor from a clinic-level medical institution who wants to become a health doctor meets the conditions and reports and registers with the ​relevant government agency in Jeju Island, residents can select their doctor from⁤ that⁢ medical institution.

Jeju Island will carry out services in the ⁣first half of next year‌ to derive a more specific health ⁢care⁤ doctor model and promote a pilot project starting in July of next year. The pilot project area will start in some rural towns and villages and gradually expand to ⁣the entire province.

Once ​the⁤ health doctor system is introduced, systematic‌ medical services such as health risk assessment, chronic disease management, health checkups,‌ vaccinations, health⁣ education, and home visits will be possible even in rural areas, which are medically vulnerable areas.

Jeju Island has decided to push for the introduction of health⁣ doctors under the judgment that it is necessary to transform services centered on primary care to respond to changing disease patterns centered on complex chronic diseases ahead of entering a super-aging society.

Jeju Island⁢ held a citizen debate at the Jeju Sun Hotel to explore ways ​to introduce health doctors‍ and gathered opinions from ⁤all walks of life. At this event, Lee Sang-i, a professor at Jeju National ​University College of Medicine, ​said, “If we introduce Jeju-style health doctors,⁣ we​ will be able to effectively respond to rapid aging, increase in complex chronic diseases,⁢ weakening of⁤ health equity between regions and classes, regional extinction crisis, infectious disease crisis, ⁣and medical crisis.”

Jeju Island will‍ also hold a debate at the National Assembly on the necessity and measures to introduce a Jeju-style ⁣health doctor system.

An official from Jeju ​Island said, “We are also conducting practical discussions with⁤ the government, ⁣including the Ministry of Health​ and‌ Welfare, to promote‌ a pilot project for health care‍ doctors.”