Dongnam Regional Nuclear Medicine Center Offers Free Knee Replacement Surgery for Seniors

First Surgery for Consideration Group Patient Successful

Additional 60 Million Won Beyond Government Support

"Even when I stayed still, it hurt so much, as if my knee was being pricked by a needle, that I couldn't fall asleep. Thanks to the support for knee joint replacement surgery costs, I am now looking forward to a normal daily life."

The first beneficiary of the senior knee joint replacement surgery support program conducted by the Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (Director Lee Changhun) expressed gratitude after receiving surgery.

The knee joint replacement surgery support program, overseen by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, provides actual cost support of 1.2 million KRW per knee for seniors aged 60 or older, as of the application date, who meet the criteria for artificial joint replacement (knee joint) and are unable to undergo surgery due to financial reasons.

The institute has additionally raised about 60 million KRW in social work funds so that more seniors can benefit. With this, they are expanding support for surgery costs to low-income seniors living in Gijang-gun and Seosaeng-myeon whose treatment costs exceed the support limit or who are excluded from the government-supported target group.

Mr. Cho (61), the first person to receive surgery through the program, was healthy enough in his youth to be an athlete, but his knee pain gradually worsened while working jobs that involved lifting and carrying heavy loads. Daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs became difficult, and although he considered surgery, the financial burden led him to endure the pain with temporary pain-relieving injections and analgesics.

Mr. Cho said, "Today was my first outpatient visit after the surgery, and I could see on the X-ray that my once-bent knee had been straightened and corrected. I hope this program run by the institute becomes widely known so that many people in need can benefit from it," he added in gratitude.

Orthopedic Chief Park Junyoung, who performed the surgery, is a specialist with extensive clinical and surgical experience, treating not only artificial joint replacements but also various conditions such as trauma and chronic arthritis.

Chief Park said, "Gijang-gun has a large elderly population who have built their lives working in the sea and rice fields since their youth. The probability of developing knee arthritis from hard labor is high, and I hope those who have postponed surgery due to financial reasons can now receive the support they need."

To apply for knee joint replacement surgery support, seniors must first consult with the institute's social work office and then visit their local public health center to submit an application. The review process takes about one month, and if selected as a surgery candidate, the operation is performed within three months.

Mr. Cho, who received free knee replacement surgery, is visiting for the first time after the operation and is taking a photo with Junyoung Park, Chief Orthopedic Surgeon.

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