Transfer of Medical Technology to Doctors of Pyeongyang Medical University Hospital in North Korea
Date :
May 10, 2016
Views :
1120
In 2008, KOFIH has been conducting a project to establish policies to provide support for healthcare in North Korea through the funding supported by the Ministry of Unification for South Korea/North Korea`s Cooperation.
Of the diverse projects being conducted at a level to `rather teach how to catch a fish than to offer fish`, a project to provide education on medical human resources to reinforce capacities of medical human resources can be compressed into three forms. Education for doctors of Pyeongyang Medical University Hospital in North Korea, field training in Germany by inviting doctors from North Korea, and establishment of medical equipment repair center/human resources education.
The development and reeducation of healthcare human resources are important factors in constructing healthcare infrastructures in North Korea. However, the reeducation of medical man was not progressed in North Korea due to consistent crisis of economy. Therefore, it was difficult for North Korea to acquire new technologies required to treat patient and thus no active management of medical equipment was executed.
Until nowadays, the support for North Korea has been mainly focused on modernizing hardwares of hospitals. However, due to incomplete updating of technological education for softwares, the support encountered limitations in resolving fundamental issues of services and healthcare systems. Hence, a project to provide education on medical human resources was conducted to overcome such issues.
In particular, what attracts attention is the project conducted to provide education on medical human resources in North Korea to educate doctors in Pyeongyang Medical University Hospital. This project was co-run by KOFIH, professors from the pediatrics team of Seoul National University Hospital, and `OK Friend`, a private organization.
This project is conducted at a newly built pediatrics(expected to open on October 24th) in Pyeongyang Medical University Hospital which is supported by OK Friend . The project is progressed in divers forms of South Korea`s theoretical discussions, mutual case presentations and discussions, and co-treatments for patients. In particular, co-treatments provided by South Korea/North Korea`s doctors have indicated good responses and effectiveness from the primary education given and contents of the education have been improving as well. Overall, North Korea`s doctors are adapting to the treatments and therapies provided to patients by South Korea`s doctors.
From South Korea, professors from the pediatrics team of Seoul National University Hospital conducted key roles along with approximately 40 other medical staff members from other fields under the management of Hwang, Sang Ik, a professor from medical college of Seoul National University. From North Korea, approximately 30 doctors participated in involving fields in every cycle. In particular, South Korea`s doctors conducting lectures and North Korea`s doctors taking lectures both formed very desperate and passionate atmosphere. Therefore, and outstanding performance is expected. The matters North Korea`s doctors are concerned about or the data required by North Korea`s doctors should be provided at a larger scale.
Answers to the matters doctors from North Korea are concerned about or needed data should be provided at a greater scale.
A consistent dispatch of South Korea`s doctors, continuous provision of necessary distributions including medical supplies, medical equipment and consumables, and provision of education on South Korea`s medical technology through co-treatment remains as our assignments.
The followings are details of education given per cycle. △1st Cycle(September 27 ~ October 1st: Cardiology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, and Neonatology) △2nd Cycle(October 1st ~ October 4th: Infection, Critical Patient Medicine, Hematocele Pharmacology, Neurology, CPR Education, and Dental Technology) △3rd Cycle(October 4th ~ October 8th: Nephrology, Infection, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Nursing, and Pediatric Anesthesia) △4th Cycle(October 11th ~ October 15th: Endocrinology, Respiratory Allergology, Imaging, and Hematocele Pharmacology)
The first large-scale project to provide education to medical human resources in North Korea will be expanded to make great contributions to the development of medical technology in North Korea.