Group to build hospital in Pyongyang

A private organization and doctors from Seoul National University Hospital are working together to close the health gap between South and North Korean children.
A private organization called “South and North Korean Children Shoulder to Shoulder” yesterday revealed a plan to build a children’s hospital in Pyongyang by June of next year.
“In order for children from the North and South to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder, North Korean children have to grow. The children’s hospital will contribute to the treatment of young children and help them grow,” said Kwon Keun-sul, the president of the organization.
The organization agreed with a medical school in Pyongyang last year to build the hospital.
The hospital will be six stories high and have 200 beds.
The South will provide equipment such as construction equipment, X-ray machines and medicines, while the North will provide labor for construction.
The 4.5 billion won ($4.8 million) that the South agreed to provide will come from private donations and from the Unification Ministry.
After the hospital is built, pediatricians from Seoul National University Hospital will regularly visit Pyongyang to train North Korean doctors and monitor hospital management.
Choi Hye-kyong, assistant director general of the group, said, “In order to inspect the construction of the hospital, three contractors and supervisors will visit there on Wednesday and stay for a month.”
Meanwhile, the North has been helping by providing over 300 workers who are digging the foundation for the hospital.

By Chae Byung-gun JoongAng Ilbo [enational@joongang.co.kr]