- One-stop support including health checkups, interpretation, and education through Incheon Foreign Residents Support Center -
Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced on December 19 that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Incheon Foreign Residents Support Center and the Incheon Medical Technicians Association to expand medical access and enhance health welfare for foreign residents.
This agreement is expected to be a significant step in providing practical assistance to foreign residents who face difficulties accessing medical services due to language and cultural barriers.
The Incheon Medical Technicians Association, a partner in this agreement, is a leading regional medical professional organization comprising various specialized medical technician groups, including dental technicians, clinical laboratory scientists, radiographers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dental hygienists, opticians, and health information managers. They actively contribute to the community by promoting citizen health and improving the quality of medical services.
Through this agreement, the two institutions plan to provide comprehensive medical welfare support for foreign residents and multicultural families living in Incheon.
Key areas of cooperation include: ▲Health screening coordination ▲Basic medical service guidance ▲Medical access support ▲Prevention-focused health education. In particular, they plan to actively address gaps in medical coverage by implementing a systematic health support program. This program will cover everything from guiding patients through medical institution procedures to providing interpretation services and follow-up health management.
Furthermore, they will establish a rehabilitation treatment and ongoing management support system for vulnerable foreign residents, including those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. They also plan to build a one-stop integrated support service to help these individuals settle stably in the community through regular health campaigns and the provision of multilingual medical information.
Kim Hyun-kyung, Director of the Incheon Foreign Residents Support Center, stated, “This agreement will be a great help to foreign residents who face difficulties accessing medical services due to language and institutional barriers,” adding, “We will continue to expand cooperation with local medical institutions to ensure the practical guarantee of foreign residents' right to health.”
Chairman Choi Han-gyu of the Incheon Medical Technicians Association remarked, “We believe it is our important role to give back to the community using the capabilities possessed by professional medical technicians and to assist medically underserved groups.” He conveyed, “We will strive to support the healthy lives of foreign residents alongside the Center and contribute to community integration.”
The two institutions plan to continuously expand the scope of medical services for foreign residents through the operation of a regular consultative body going forward.
