A 100-Pyeong Scale 'Free Clinic for Homeless' Established Near Seoul Station

Medical space expanded 2.5 times... X-ray room for regular tuberculosis screening also installed

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 23rd that the Seoul Station Homeless Free Clinic, the nation's first primary care clinic for street homeless people, will be relocated and expanded to the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Seoul Station Post Office building (Bongnae-dong, Jung-gu) near Seoul Station Plaza.

Since its opening in 2002, the Seoul Station Homeless Free Clinic has treated an average of 62 street homeless patients daily and 15,440 annually until last year. It has also issued free referral letters for severely ill homeless patients requiring secondary hospital care.

In addition, the clinic cooperates with private medical institutions to provide dental and ophthalmologic treatments and supports sanatorium-style single rooms for tuberculosis patients who need to take tuberculosis medication.

When relocating the free clinic this time, Seoul City chose a location close to Seoul Station Plaza to consider accessibility for street homeless people. Furthermore, the treatment space, which was previously only about 40 pyeong (approximately 132 square meters), has expanded to 100 pyeong (approximately 330 square meters), allowing for the installation of specialized medical equipment such as radiology devices that had not been installed before, as well as more than doubling the patient waiting area, counseling rooms, and health management education rooms.

To enhance the professionalism and quality of homeless medical care, which had been operated only by two public health doctors, Seoul City plans to hire specialists and radiologists. Street homeless people, who are vulnerable to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, will now be able to receive regular examinations at the Seoul Station Free Clinic instead of the biannual mobile tuberculosis screenings previously conducted mainly around Seoul Station and Yeongdeungpo Station.

An isolation room with negative pressure, capable of temporarily protecting patients diagnosed with or suspected of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, will also be installed and operated to establish a safer homeless protection system.

Kang Jae-shin, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Self-Support Division, said, "We hope that through the newly opened Seoul Station Homeless Free Clinic, homeless people can become more independent in a safer and healthier environment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.