Daewoong Pharmaceutical is utilizing digital healthcare technology to address health disparities in medically underserved areas. The company has been focusing on building a futuristic hospital system with its AI-based patient monitoring system, 'thynC.' In line with this, AI technology and wearable devices used in thynC are being introduced into medical volunteer activities.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 25th that it conducted digital healthcare medical volunteer services for approximately 80 residents of Yeonggumi-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do. The activity was conducted in collaboration with the Korea Association of Health Promotion Institutions and the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Preventive Health Center. Precision health check-ups and personalized consultation services were provided based on AI and wearable technology.

The volunteer service was organized to enhance medical accessibility in areas where medical gaps are a concern due to aging and population decline. Hongcheon-gun was designated as a high-risk area for population extinction by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in August. The region is experiencing rapid aging, with the elderly population aged 65 and over accounting for 34%. The disparity in medical services is also widening due to the decrease in the economically active population and medical personnel.

In addition to Daewoong Pharmaceutical, major digital healthcare companies such as Seers Technology, Exosystems, Medical AI, and Arc participated in the volunteer activity. Health check-up programs using advanced digital devices were operated on-site, including the wearable electrocardiogram device 'Mobicare,' AI heart failure early diagnosis software 'Etia LVSD,' AI blindness disease diagnosis solution 'WISKY,' fundus camera 'OPTiNA,' and AI-based sarcopenia analysis solution 'ExoMed-DeepSarc.' Notably, health abnormalities were detected in many residents. In the Mobicare test, 23 out of 60 examinees, or about 38%, showed suspected arrhythmia findings such as premature contraction, tachycardia, and bradycardia. Tachycardia was the most common suspicion with 12 cases, and there were also 5 cases of complex abnormal findings. In the fundus examination using OPTiNA and WISKY, 30 people (46%) showed suspected findings of blindness diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. The need for preventive management of ophthalmic diseases in the elderly was highlighted on-site. In the DeepSarc test, 28 people (42%) were classified as being in the suspected stage of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia can reduce daily activity ability and increase the risk of falls, making early management important.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical reported that it provided individuals with findings on-site with lifestyle improvement plans such as personalized exercise methods and nutrition management. Additionally, guidance was provided for receiving precise diagnoses through hospital visits or additional tests if necessary.

This volunteer service is evaluated as meaningful as it realized personalized health management using AI technology beyond simple health check-ups. It presented a community health management model for regions where medical-related systems are becoming insufficient. Participants reportedly had high satisfaction as they were guided on disease risk based on individual health indicators collected and analyzed by AI in real-time, and received personalized health consultations. It also demonstrated that effective medical services can be provided in areas lacking medical infrastructure through digital healthcare solutions that can be utilized immediately without separate installation or equipment setup. Cho Byung-ha, Head of Daewoong Pharmaceutical's Digital Healthcare Division, stated, "This medical volunteer service is a case showing that digital healthcare technology can play a practical role in addressing health disparities in medically underserved areas," adding, "We will continue to collaborate with the community to provide sustainable healthcare solutions and actively practice ESG management."

Meanwhile, Daewoong Pharmaceutical has been conducting various medical volunteer activities, including volunteer services in island areas such as Yukdo and Daebudo, and supporting health check-ups for foreign workers, multicultural families, and North Korean defectors. The company is continuously expanding activities to address medical blind spots using advanced digital healthcare technology and expertise.

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