Green Light for Yangju and Namyangju Public Hospitals

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] As a feasibility study concludes that the Northeast Gyeonggi public hospitals planned for establishment in Yangju and Namyangju are economically viable, the project has received the green light.

On the 25th, Gyeonggi Province held the 'Final Report Meeting for Feasibility and Private Investment Qualification Study for Northeast Gyeonggi Public Hospital Establishment,' sharing the study results and discussing future implementation plans.

According to the final report by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, which conducted the study, the cost-benefit ratio (B/C) for economic feasibility is 1.02 for Namyangju public hospital and 1.20 for Yangju public hospital. A B/C value of 1.0 or higher is considered economically viable.

Both hospitals are planned with 400 beds each. Namyangju public hospital will operate 14 specialized medical (specialty) centers centered around approximately 15 departments of medicine, including an Emergency Medical Center, Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center, Maternal and Child Healthcare Center, Rehabilitation Treatment Center, and Integrated Care Medical Center. It is planned to be established as a hub for integrated medical and care services.

Yangju public hospital will operate approximately 18 departments along with 16 specialized medical (specialty) centers including a Mental Health Emergency Center and Eye Health Clinic, serving as an integrated medical hub connecting essential medical services and care services within the region.

Both hospitals will be constructed with a gross floor area of approximately 38,500 square meters and designed as 'innovative public hospitals' integrating emergency, acute care, rehabilitation, and care functions. The total project cost for each is estimated at approximately 285 billion won and will be pursued through private investment (BTL) methods.

Regarding organization and workforce, an operational model based on securing specialized personnel focused on essential medical services and establishing cooperation systems between regional medical institutions has been presented, with the goal of linking medical resources and establishing a regionally self-sufficient medical system.

In particular, these public hospitals will be pursued as innovative models incorporating AI-based smart hospital functions. The plan is to enhance patient safety and medical treatment efficiency through patient hazardous behavior detection using AI sensors and intelligent CCTV, real-time analysis of patient vital signs, and medical staff task automation systems.

Previously, the Province has undergone phased reviews of medical demand, medical service areas, bed capacity, and operational models through kickoff and interim reports, while continuously coordinating with the central government, including visits to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, to lay the groundwork for the project.

The Province plans to finalize the study by the end of April and actively pursue filing for preliminary feasibility assessment and coordination with the central government within the first half of the year.

You Young-chul, Director of Health and Wellness at Gyeonggi Province, said, "Through this feasibility study, both the necessity and economic viability of establishing the Northeast Gyeonggi public hospitals have been confirmed," adding, "We will do our best to ensure early groundbreaking based on the study results."