'Chungnam Byeongwonseon' Sets Sail for the First Time in the New Year... Starting Medical Services in Island Villages

Hybrid Hospital Ship Replacing Former 'Chungnam 501'
巡航 32 Islands Including Wonsando and Sapsido
Aiming to Treat 12,000 Patients Annually

The Chungnam Hospital Ship has begun its first voyage of the new year to serve as a health guardian for island village residents.

Chungnam Province announced on the 3rd that the Chungnam Hospital Ship started its medical activities this year, departing from Sapsido Island in Boryeong. The Chungnam Hospital Ship is a hybrid-type hospital ship built last August to replace the previous ‘Chungnam 501’. This year, it plans to conduct mobile medical services on 32 inhabited islands, including Wonsando, Sapsido, and Jangodo, across six cities and counties.

Last August, attendees at the launching ceremony of the 'Chungnam Hospital Ship' are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Yonhap News

The Chungnam Hospital Ship is staffed with a total of 21 personnel, including three doctors specializing in internal medicine, dentistry, and Korean medicine, three nurses, four medical technicians, nine marine and fisheries personnel, and one communications operator, providing medical services to island residents.

The target number of medical service days is over 180, with an annual goal of serving 12,000 patients. Last year, the Chungnam Hospital Ship operated for 183 days, covering 9,047 km, and cared for a total of 11,017 patients, including 8,148 in internal medicine, 1,007 in dentistry, and 1,862 in Korean medicine.

This year, the Chungnam Hospital Ship plans to provide home visits for patients with mobility difficulties and, in cases where departure is impossible due to bad weather, will connect remotely with health clinics to continue medical consultations.

The ship is equipped with the latest medical devices, such as bone density measurement equipment and biochemical analyzers. Additionally, a newly installed physical therapy room, which was not available before, has strengthened medical services for island residents.

The first voyage of the new year involved anchoring off the coast of Sapsido Island and boarding island residents onto the Chungnam Hospital Ship for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the Chungnam Hospital Ship features a diesel engine for high-speed travel and an electric motor for low-speed or short-distance operations, enhancing the reduction of air pollutant emissions and energy savings.

Considering the shallow waters of the West Coast, the propulsion system uses a water jet method, and the maximum speed is 20 knots (40 km/h), enabling emergency transport of patients in island areas.

A Chungnam Province official stated, “More than half of the island village residents in Chungnam are elderly aged 60 or older, and many suffer from chronic diseases. However, due to the geographical characteristics of island villages, access to medical services is limited.”

He added, “The Chungnam Hospital Ship will do its utmost to eliminate medical blind spots for island residents and fulfill its role as a guardian of residents’ health.”

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