The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on June 9 that Korea was designated by the World Bank as a medical evacuation destination, meaning the bank's staff in 29 countries in East Asia and the Pacific can get emergency medical treatment in Korea if their country of residence does not offer the treatment or procedure they need. The photo above shows health authorities on June 2 diagnosing municipal staff at a screening clinic in Incheon's Bupyeong-gu District. (Yonhap News)
By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae
World Bank staff in 29 countries in East Asia and the Pacific can go to Korea if they need urgent medical treatment.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on June 9 in a news release that Korea was designated a "medical evacuation destination" by the bank. This means that bank staff and their families can get urgent treatment in nearby countries with the designation if the required treatment or procedure is unavailable in the country of their residence.
The level of medical development, accessibility, safety and social infrastructure are considered when granting the designation to a country.
Korea thus joins Thailand and Singapore on the bank's list of medical evacuation destinations in East Asia and the Pacific. The bank attributed Korea's inclusion to the nation's advanced medical system and successful quarantine experience, both of which were shown through the country's response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The ministry quoted Victoria Kwakwa, the bank's vice president for East Asia and the Pacific, and Annette Dixon, the bank's vice president for human development, as saying in a written statement that their organization was deeply moved by the response measures of the Korean government and people against COVID-19 and that other member states can learn much from Korea's experience.
The bank told the Korean government that it will conduct research on case studies of the nation's response to the pandemic, dispatch health experts from the bank to its branch in Korea, and cooperate with Seoul in the health and medical sectors.
"Since the COVID-19 crisis, relevant government branches have closely cooperated and actively responded to questions from the World Bank so that Korea could get designated as a medical evacuation center," the ministry said.
"The treatments cover a variety of illnesses such as regular injuries, acute or severe diseases, and chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes or psychic trauma). We expect Korea's medical technology to gain international recognition and contribute to the expansion of medical exports."
kimhyelin211@korea.kr
