Saxony’s Minister of Social Affairs, Petra Köpping (SPD), believes that technological developments in South Korea’s healthcare system are worth emulating. “Digitalization, AI, and robotics are widely used and are much more commonplace in everyday life than they are here. There is a great openness here to technological innovations that are used in daily life for the benefit of patients and staff,” the minister explained upon her return from a trip to the East Asian country.
Visits to hospitals in Seoul were informative
Last week, Köpping and a Saxon delegation visited not only a trade fair in the South Korean capital of Seoul but also clinics and a rehabilitation center, among other places. “The visit to the hospitals in Seoul was impressive and informative for the Saxon delegation. In one hospital, the wards were supplied with medication entirely by robots from the hospital pharmacy. This prevents errors in medication dispensing and saves time and staff.”
Germany Has Nothing to Hide
“Nevertheless, we as the Saxon delegation observed that progress is also being made here, and we have nothing to hide. Many of the software solutions and assistive devices on display at the trade show are already in use in Germany,” the minister emphasized, adding: “The German healthcare system is, after all, frequently and widely criticized. What we observed on the ground is that South Korea has a great interest in learning from us as well.” She cited the German health insurance system as an example.
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