Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Medical Center(HUMC) has recently been designated as a Project Management Consultant(PMC) for a project to establish a hospital for kids in Laos. As a consultant of the project, 'The Establishment of a Children's Hospital in Laos' to be carried out by the Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA), Hallym signed a contract with the government agency on August 3.

The $3.5-million project, one of the agency's Official Development Assistant(ODA) projects, aims at building a children's hospital in Vientiane, Laos, by 2011. The project is designed to improve the medical conditions and establish a local healthcare system in the capital.

To help KOICA successfully manage the project, Hallym plans to complete listings of medical equipment and facilities, and give tips to inspect and manage them. Hallym would also dispatch medical experts to conduct a baseline survey, make manuals for hospital operation and management, and train employees through workshops and lectures. Prior to its opening, Hallym will invite Lao medical professionals of the hospital including two pediatric surgeons and two pediatrists to transfer its advanced medical techniques and know-how.

Since its first designation as a PMC in 2007 for KOICA's Iraqi projects, 'The Establishment of a Burn Center in Baghdad,' and 'The Establishment of a Mobile Clinic Team in Najaf,' Hallym has been actively participating in such governmental assistant programs. Hallym's idea of helping strengthening the medical specialty of KOICA's ODA projects through consulting, inviting for training, and delivering advanced hospital management know-how have also been realized in other subsequent government-initiated projects: 'The Establishment of a Central General Hospital in Quang Nam, Vietnam,' 'The Establishment of an Emergency Center in Rizgary Hospital in Arbil, Iraq,' 'The Enhancement of Maternal and Child Healthcare Center in Kitengela, Kenya,' and 'The Establishment of San Pedro Hospital in Paraguay.'

By Jong Hun Im, Int’l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)