Suwon Proposes Expansion of Veterans Care Contracted Hospitals to National Patriots and Veterans Affairs Ministry
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] Suwon City has proposed to the National Patriots and Veterans Affairs Ministry to "expand the designation of veterans care contracted hospitals in Suwon City."
Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon visited the National Patriots and Veterans Affairs Ministry in Sejong City on the 28th and met with Vice Minister Yoon Jong-jin to request support for resolving key issues in Suwon City, including ▲expansion of designated veterans care contracted hospitals in Suwon ▲remodeling support for the historical site "French Forces Participation Memorial" ▲operational support for special transportation services within Suwon veterans welfare facilities.
Mayor Lee stated, "There is high medical demand among veterans care patients in Suwon City, but currently there are only 5 contracted hospitals," and proposed "to additionally designate 6 more contracted hospitals and add more medical departments."
7.64% of all veterans in Gyeonggi Province reside in Suwon City, and veterans residing in southern Gyeonggi regions also frequently use Suwon's contracted hospitals due to good transportation accessibility, resulting in medical demand currently at saturation. Additionally, following the elimination of the age restriction (75 years old) for contracted medical institutions in October, new demand has emerged. With the aging of the beneficiary population, there is also a need to add medical departments for age-related diseases.
The "French Forces Participation Memorial remodeling" is a request from the French Embassy.
Mayor Lee Jae-jun requested support of 1 billion won in project costs necessary to supplement the aging memorial and add rest areas.
Additionally, he also proposed financial support for the purchase and leasing of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for national patriots within veterans welfare facilities.
Meanwhile, Suwon City has 3 veterans welfare facilities—a veterans home, veterans nursing facility, and veterans welfare town—where 687 people currently reside. However, the average age of national patriots in veterans welfare facilities is 75 years old, and many face difficulties using public transportation.