11-month-old Kazakh child with heart disease received free surgery at S. Korea's Sejong General Hospital
Eleven-month-old Kazakhstan child with a heart disease received free surgery at Sejong General Hospital on Aug 29 as the first case of the Project last year.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute plan to invite 25 international child patients, from seven countries, to Korea over the next two months for free surgeries at nine local hospitals, the press release of the Medical Korea project reads.
The invitation is part of the Korean Medical Charity Program aimed at sharing Korea's advanced medical services with the world. The Korean Medical Charity Program is part of 'Medical Korea,' which is a brand launched to promote the Korean medical industry in December 2009.
Under the Korean Medical Charity Program, the Korean Government will coverall patient and guardian travel expenses, while top-tier Korean hospitals will share their skills to tackle diseases difficult to cure in the patients' home countries.
As the first case of the Korean Medical Charity Program this year, eleven-month-old Kamel Amina Bakutjanovna from Kazakhstan, who has congenital heart disease, received free surgery at Sejong General Hospital, one of leading hospitals for the treatment of heart disease in Korea, on last August 29. She was invited by Minister Chin, who visited Kazakhstan from Aug. 24 through 26 to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the respective administrator on health and medical exchanges.
To step up the Korean medical charity activities, the KHIDI will invite 25 child patients, including Kamel from Kazakhstan and other children from Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Egypt, to Korea. The nine Korean hospitals participating in the program are Sejong General Hospital, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Yeson Voice Center, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Severance Hospital and Samsung Medical Center.
KHIDI expected that the Korean Medical Charity Program would enhance the nation's brand image as a medical powerhouse and boost collaborations between the two countries in the health and medical fields. It also added that the Korean Medical Charity Program will foster a positive image of Korea's advanced medical services.
The Medical Korea campaign for 2011 ends in March and the 2012 campaigns begins again in April.
For 2012, one of our main target region is the Russian speaking region, including Kazakhstan. In 2011, we invited a total of 32 children from several countries, including Kazakstan to Korea for pro-bono surgeries. We also provided for their tour around Korea and all expenses coming and staying in Korea. In 2012, we are planning to invite around 70 children with more children from the Russian speaking regions, the statement reads.