Four Sharing Culture Medical Projects have been carried out with Eight Supporting Institutions in Gyeonggi-do

Photo. Gyeonggi-do Province announced on January 2^nd that it has carried out four sharing culture projects with eight supporting institutions since it started artificial joint surgery support projects for low-income classes together with Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Lee Chun Tek Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital in 2008, Curexo Inc., Bagae Hospital and Dongjak Kyunghee Hospital in 2011. (Courtesy of Curexo Inc.)

Case 1. Lee (76, Namyangju) with grade 5 hearing impairment could not sleep because of pain in both knees that started a few years ago. She received an injection treatment at a hospital near her house, which did not alleviate her pains. She could not walk without a wheelchair, so she has stayed at home all day long.

Lee wanted to undergo artificial joint surgery, but the thought of the surgery fees that cost millions of won and post-operative care costs dismayed her. However, Lee was selected as a beneficiary of the social contribution project “New Knees for Neighbors” that Gyeonggi-do Province, Curexo Inc. and Joint Surgery Hospital support. She underwent artificial joint surgery in August 2016.
Four months after the surgery, Lee cannot run yet, but enjoys walking around the town several times a day, delighted that she can walk on her own.

Case 2. Lee (52) who lives in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, has spent 20 years with burn scars on his face and hands due to a fire accident. As time went by, Lee suffered changes in his appearance such as a distorted mouth shape, as his burned skin deformed. Lee lost his confidence and has spent most of his time at home. Reconstructive plastic surgery was urgent for him, but the medical expenses of millions of won was the amount of money that he, who has earned a living as a day laborer, could not afford.

An official of the Gwangju City government, who came to know Lee’s situation, connected him to the medical support project “Healing Bridge,” which has been carried out by Gyeonggi-do Province and the Bestian Foundation. Lee, who underwent two reconstructive plastic surgeries in May 2015 and October 2016, recovered from physical discomfort and regained confidence. He even joined a mountain climbing club and is now enjoying his new life.

As seen in these two cases, the medical support program for those who cannot afford medical expenses has become a hope for the low-income earner.

Gyeonggi-do Province announced on January 2^nd that it has carried out four sharing culture projects with eight supporting institutions since it started artificial joint surgery support projects for low-income classes together with Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Lee Chun Tek Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital in 2008, Curexo Inc., Bagae Hospital and Dongjak Kyunghee Hospital in 2011.

Gyeonggi-do Province’s sharing culture project is a program that connects low-income people who are in need of medical treatment but have no way to cover medical expenses with the organizations or companies that want to carry out social contribution projects. Since 2008, the program has supported 2,582 million won for a total of 897 cases.

The following are the overviews of each project and information about application requirements. Those who wish to get support can contact the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Sharing Culture Team (031-8008-5218).

■ Artificial joint surgery support project

The project is supported by two institutions. First, since 2008, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has supported artificial joint surgery and nursing care costs for low income earners under the age of 75 among recipients of the national basic livelihood guarantees. Surgeries are supported by the Suwon Lee Chun Tek Hospital.

Curexo, an artificial joint surgery robot company, has also supported joint surgeries using robots since 2011. The beneficiaries are selected among ▲ medical benefit (grade 1 or 2) recipients, regardless of their ages, ▲ those who are eligible for the medical care ▲ and subjects of infinite care. Recipients of medical benefits and care can be provided with the full amount of t contributions for medical expenses and subjects of infinite care can receive a partial contribution. The surgeries are operated at Bagae Hospital in Pyeongtaek and Dongjak Kyunghee Hospital in Seoul.

■ Burn patient medical treatment support project

The Bestinian Burn Sponsorship Foundation supports the medical expenses for burn patients. The beneficiary are those with less than 80% of the median income who suffer from physical pains and psychiatric sequelae due to sudden burns. There is no age limit and emergency medical expenses are provided up to 20 million won, and rehabilitation medical expenses up to 10 million won.

■ The Miral Welfare Foundation’s support project

The Miral Welfare Foundation supports medical expenses in five areas for children who are from families with less than 80% of the median income and require surgeries because of disability or rare diseases.

The five areas are ▲ support for rehabilitation and various treatment costs of up to 200,000 won per month for disabled children and adolescents under 18 (1-on-1 medical expenses support for disabled children) ▲ support for surgery fees of up to 5 million won for disabled children under 18 (surgery fees for disabled children) ▲ support for facial surgery fees of up to 4 million won for children and adolescents under 24 who need this type of surgery (surgery fees for those with facial handicap) ▲ support for kidney transplant surgery fees of up to 5 million won in the case that the operation schedule is confirmed (kidney transplant surgery fees) ▲ support for living, medical and housing expenses for low-income families in crisis. It is necessary to check the application period and method as they are different by each program.

■ The National Medical Center’s reconstructive surgery support project

Supported by the Korea Heart Foundation, reconstructive surgery fees are provided to those who are eligible to the individual share reduction service among recipients of grade 1 or 2 medical benefits and the near poverty group; and to multicultural low-income families. The disorders or diseases covered by this project are: cleft lip, cleft palate, articulation disorder, burn scars, and polydactyly.