South Gyeongsang's Doctor Bus rolls out for second-half run through medically underserved areas

South Gyeongsang Province's "Gyeongnam Doctor Bus" launched its second-half circuit Tuesday, beginning in Byeonggok-myeon, Hamyang-gun, as the province works to improve healthcare access for residents in medically underserved areas and narrow the regional gap in health services.

The Doctor Bus is a mobile public healthcare service that travels directly to rural farming and fishing communities, as well as remote island and outlying townships across the province where specialist departments such as ophthalmology, ear-nose-and-throat and urology are either unavailable or difficult to reach. Three specialist professors from Gyeongsang National University Hospital and medical staff from Masan Medical Center board a specially equipped screening bus carrying 14 advanced diagnostic devices to provide on-site care.

The second-half schedule runs from September through December, covering 14 townships across the province in 14 visits. September stops include Hamyang-gun, Goseong, Hadong-gun, Haman and Namhae-gun; October visits take in Geoje, Uiryeong, Gimhae and Saryang-myeon in Tongyeong; November covers Sacheon, Hapcheon-gun, Changnyeong-gun and Hadong-gun; and the final stop on Dec. 2 is Ungyang-myeon in Geochang-gun.

The bus will reach even remote island communities — including Saryang-myeon in Tongyeong, where regular trips to mainland hospitals are difficult — to check on the health of elderly residents. Screenings run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Services cover conditions common among older adults, including basic eye examinations, hearing tests, nasal and pharyngeal checks, tympanometry, prostate ultrasound and urinary dysfunction screening. Residents can receive free specialist care near their homes without traveling to a major city hospital. When abnormal findings are detected, patients are referred to higher-level hospitals and connected with chronic disease management programs at local public health centers for ongoing treatment.

The Doctor Bus was introduced in 2017 to address healthcare inequality in parts of the province with weak medical infrastructure, excluding cities such as Changwon, Jinju and Yangsan. With an annual budget of 160 million won ($116,000), it stands as a flagship welfare policy guaranteeing healthcare access for vulnerable rural residents. In the first half of this year, 2,105 residents received screenings across 14 runs — well above the original target — reflecting strong public demand.

"Through the Doctor Bus, we will ensure that residents in medically underserved areas can conveniently receive specialist screenings close to home," said Kang Eun-young, head of South Gyeongsang Province's medical policy division. "We will continue to deliver outreach healthcare services without disruption in the second half and expand medical welfare that residents can truly feel."

The province plans to conduct a detailed analysis of the Doctor Bus program's operations and carry out a resident needs survey across all 18 cities and counties, with a view to actively exploring new specialist services and expanding the bus's coverage.