Hyundai Foundation to Roll Out S. Korea’s First CT Checkup Bus for COVID-19 Diagnosis

This photo provided by Korea University Medical Center shows a mobile health clinic bus.

SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — In collaboration with the Korea University Medical Center (KUMC), the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation will roll out the nation’s first computed tomography (CT) checkup bus for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

The foundation held a ceremony for the signing of an agreement with the KUMC on Monday to develop a special bus that is mounted with CT equipment.

The CT checkup bus will be designed based on consideration of radiation shielding and disinfection of infectious diseases.

For the early stages of COVID-19, CT can provide a more accurate diagnosis compared to X-rays or the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test that is commonly used in the diagnosis of COVID-19.

However, it is difficult to move CT equipment since most scanners are designed to be used in a fixed location.

Accordingly, the diagnosis of COVID-19 using CT equipment has not been available in areas devoid of medical services or at facilities housing COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.

The foundation decided to join hands with the KUMC to develop the special CT checkup bus aimed at contributing to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in areas lacking adequate healthcare services.

Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)