KT and Severance Hospital Develop Mobile App for Trachoma Patients

The “Trachoma App” can allow medical field workers to check the conditions of the eye disease with simple instructions. (image:KT)

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The Severance Hospital of the Yonsei University Health System said on August 28 that it has developed a mobile app to manage patients with trachoma jointly with KT. The “Trachoma App” can allow medical field workers to check the conditions of the eye disease with simple instructions. This is expected to come in handy in underdeveloped regions in the world where there are many trachoma patients with inadequate medical services.

Once a patient registers with the app, including her personal information and detailed eye conditions, the doctor can track the history of the patient through the app, with everything from surgery schedules to symptom management, and to treatment statistics conveniently managed through it.

Trachoma, one of the major causes of blindness, is an infectious disease occurring in places where sanitary condition is poor. In some least developed countries, three out of ten people are contracted with the disease. KT and the Severance Hospital are currently working with the Health Ministry of Malawi to distribute the app as part of a national health program.

Out of the total population of 15 million, an estimated number of 2.5 million is suffering from the eye disorder. But the number of eye doctors capable of treating trachoma is only eight. KT expects the number of healthcare field workers who can diagnose and treat the disease with the mobile app will rise to 500,000 by the end of this year.

By Sean Chung (schung10@koreabizwire.com)