During a business trip to Mongolia from April 2-5, the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare held a workshop to conclude the ‘Operation and Management Consulting for the Nuclear Medicine Department of the National Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Mongolia' at the 2nd General Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The workshop was held on April 3 to evaluate and share the results of the project over the past five years.

The project, a loan-grant integrated one with the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), was a follow-up to the ‘Operation and Management Consulting for the Nuclear Medicine Department of the National Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Mongolia', which ran from 2015 to 2019, with a total project value of KRW 2.58 billion (USD 1.87 million) from 2020 to 2025. KOFIH provided human capacity building and medical equipment support to about 20 departments of the Mongolian Second General Hospital, including invitational training, on-site refresher training, and online and offline consultations and workshops, to improve the overall operation of the hospital.

As a result of these efforts, the hospital achieved a 509% increase in the number of patients visiting the hospital compared to 2020, a 440% increase in the number of medical examinations, and the first 18F-FDG* in Mongolia (2021).

* 18F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose): A type of radiopharmaceutical used in PET-CT imaging

At the workshop, KOFIH and the Second General Hospital of Mongolia shared the achievements of key departments, including the Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Department of Nursing, and the Department of International Cooperation and Education, and presented the hospital's future operational plans and vision, reaffirming the sustainability of the project.

“Thanks to the active participation and ownership of the Mongolian Second General Hospital, the project was successfully completed,” said KOFIH Secretary General Baek, Kwan Baek, ”and we will continue to work together on behalf of the Republic of Korea to improve the health of the Mongolian people.”

“We are sincerely grateful for the support of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, which has helped us to become the best public hospital in Mongolia,” said Dr. Byambadorj. ”We hope to continue our cooperation to further improve the healthcare conditions in Mongolia.”

Meanwhile, KOFIH also donated 21 additional medical supplies (five kinds), including ICG endoscopy equipment and imaging diagnostic software, to Mongolia's Second General Hospital, which successfully performed its first liver transplant surgery in March.

△ Commemorative photo of the bronze plaque ceremony between representatives of KOFIH, Mongolia's 2nd General Hospital

(From left to right) Director General Kang Jae-heon of Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center, Director Byambadorj of Mongolia's Second General Hospital, and Secretary General Baek Kwan Baek of KOFIH

△ Group photo of the participants at the end-of-project workshop

△ Secretary General Baek delivering closing remarks at workshop

△ Commemorative photo of the medical supplies donation ceremony

(From left to right) Secretary General Baek Kwan Baek of KOFIH, and surgeon at the Organ Transplantation Center of Mongolia's Second General Hospital

△ Group photo of key figures at the project closing ceremony and donation ceremony

(From left to right) Surgeon Onong, Deputy Director Chukt-Ochir, KOFIH Secretary General Baek Kwan Baek, Kang Jae-heon, Director General Kang Jae-heon of Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center, Director Byambadorj, and Deputy Director Ganzorig

△ Officials at the unveiling ceremony of the Organ Transplantation Center at the Second General Hospital of Mongolia

(From left to right) Director Byambadorj of Mongolia's Second General Hospital, and Secretary General Baek Kwan Baek of KOFIH