Seoul National University Hospital Supports Construction of Laos' First National University Hospital

Photo of the site for Laos National University Hospital (Photo by Seoul National University Hospital)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Seoul National University Hospital is supporting the establishment of the first national university hospital in Laos.

Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 22nd that it recently signed a consulting contract with the Ministry of Health of Laos for the construction of the Laos UHS (University of Health Sciences) hospital.

The Laos UHS hospital is the first national university hospital to be built in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It is being promoted with the goals of improving medical services in Laos, training specialized medical personnel, and enhancing the healthcare environment. The hospital will have 400 beds (28,700㎡) consisting of 24 medical departments and special clinics, along with a simulation center (2,900㎡) and various auxiliary facilities (2,700㎡).

Seoul National University Hospital formed a consortium with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Myeongseung Architects & Associates, Dain Group Engineering Architects, Sangji Engineering Architects, and KCA to participate in the consultant selection bidding. After being selected as the preferred negotiator in September, the contract was signed on the 11th.

The consulting project budget is approximately 12.6 billion KRW, fully funded by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund loan. For four years before the hospital opens, Seoul National University Hospital will establish medical and operational plans for the hospital construction and train local medical staff in Korea. Even after opening, specialized medical personnel will be dispatched to Laos for three years to transfer medical technology.

Laos is evaluated to have insufficient patient care infrastructure due to poor medical services compared to the continuously increasing medical demand. Through this project, it is expected to reduce the outflow of overseas patients from Laos and greatly contribute to training specialized medical personnel as the only training hospital in Laos.

Lee Dong-yeon, head of the International Business Headquarters at Seoul National University Hospital and the project’s overall manager, said, "Just as Korea’s medical field developed remarkably in the late 1950s through the Minnesota Project from the United States, Korea has been steadily conducting projects to transfer medical technology to underdeveloped countries since 2010 through the Lee Jong-wook-Seoul Project. The UHS hospital construction consulting is also part of this effort and is significant in terms of public interest and symbolism as the establishment of Laos’ first national university hospital."

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