Global healthcare company Open Healthcare announced on the 19th that it held an opening ceremony for the 'Korean Medical Center (KMC)' in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Representatives from Seegene Medical Foundation, a disease testing specialist institution that established Open Healthcare, also attended to announce plans to enter the Central Asian medical industry.

Seegene Medical Foundation established Open Healthcare in July 2023 with the goal of expanding its overseas medical business. It has built a global network in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Los Angeles, USA, and Hanoi, Vietnam.

The event was attended by Seegene Medical Foundation Chairman Cheon Jong-gi, Chief Medical Director Han Kyu-seop, Chief Pathology Director Kang Shin-kwang, Open Healthcare CEO Lee Min-cheol, General Medical Director Park Geon-sang, Kazakhstan Branch Representative Kim Dae-young, and Korean Medical Center Medical Director Min Hee-seok. Former Minister of Health and Welfare Jin Soo-hee, Open Healthcare Board Chairman Song Jae-seong, former Korean Medical Association President Kyung Man-ho, Hanyang University Medical Center Director Yoon Ho-joo, Asian Telemedicine Society President Kang Dae-hee, former Bundang Seoul National University Hospital Director Baek Nam-jong, and Pusan National University Graduate School of Korean Medicine Professor Kwon Young-kyu also attended.

Local dignitaries, including Zhanibek Zharaskanuly, Almaty Representative of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pashimov Marat, Almaty Health Bureau Director, Kim Roman, former Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Korean Association, Omarov Bakytzhan, Vice President of the National University, and Auezova Ardak, President of the Medical University, were among the 200 attendees.

The Open Healthcare KMC main building is the largest Korean-style medical institution in Central Asia, with a total floor area of approximately 7,134㎡ (2,158 pyeong), spanning from the basement to the fifth floor and an annex on the first floor. It provides integrated medical services, including diagnostic testing (B2B), self-testing (B2C), clinics, comprehensive health check-ups, patient transfer, and pre- and post-care (PPCC).

It is equipped with state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, including a 3.0 Tesla MRI, 256-channel CT, endoscopy, mammography, ultrasound, and bone density testing equipment. It offers fast and accurate testing services to local hospitals and individual customers through an automated testing system, AI-based histopathology quality control system SeeDP, general testing, specialized microbiology testing, molecular diagnostic solutions, and pathology. A B2C diagnostic model is also in operation, where individuals can purchase self-test kits (Allrange Kit), send them to the testing center, and receive results. A total of 27 specialists, including Medical Director Min Hee-seok (cardiology specialist), are working in internal medicine, pediatrics, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, rehabilitation medicine, laboratory medicine, and pathology.

Seegene Medical Foundation has established a pre- and post-care center (PPCC) and an international collaborative medical service center within KMC to operate a collaborative medical system linked with about 50 partner medical institutions in Korea. It also supports the introduction of the Korean healthcare system locally and the transfer to Korean hospitals if necessary.

Seegene Medical Foundation Chairman Cheon Jong-gi stated, "This opening is the result of continuous consultations with the Kazakhstan government since 2021 and will be a turning point in promoting healthcare innovation between the two countries."

Open Healthcare CEO Lee Min-cheol said, "By introducing Korea's medical system and IT-based digital healthcare solutions locally, we will contribute to the health promotion of the Kazakhstani people and play a leading role in the development of medical technology in Central Asia."

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