While South Korea has the misfortune of having the highest rate of gastric cancer in the world, South Korean medical experts have been at the forefront of the fight against the stomach disease, and developing countries with a less-sophisticated medical system like Mongolia stand to benefit significantly from their knowledge and advice. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) is helping Mongolia fight cancer through business agreements that will see advanced medical technology applied in the country with the second highest rate of gastric cancer in the world.
The KGCA will continue its efforts to spread awareness and help teach medical technology to developing countries until all human beings are safe from stomach cancer, the organization announced in its ambitious plans at Korea International Gastric Cancer Week (KINGCA), which ended last weekend in Busan.
While South Korea has the misfortune of having the highest rate of gastric cancer in the world, South Korean medical experts have been at the forefront of the fight against the stomach disease, and developing countries with a less-sophisticated medical system like Mongolia stand to benefit significantly from their knowledge and advice.
Last month, a number of KGCA officials visited Mongolia to meet with government officials and medical experts and discuss possible measures on a national level to prevent the spread of the deadly type of cancer both countries suffer the most from.
Kim Sung-guen, director of general affairs at the KGCA, said “The salt and butter that goes into the making of Mongol’s much loved milk tea is believed to be one of the major factors behind the country’s high rate of gastric cancer. However, most patients start receiving treatment in advanced stages due to their inadequate medical system.
“To solve these issues, (our committee) emphasized the importance to the Mongolian government of having a government-backed checkup service. We expect they will follow in the footsteps of South Korea,” Kim added.
The KGCA also facilitated the establishment of a new collaborative gastric cancer association consisting of Mongolian and South Korean medical experts, through which medical technology and knowledge will be shared between the two countries.
Enkh-Amgalan, a professor at Intermed Hospital Mongolia who attended KINGCA, said, “In Mongolia, gastric cancer patients resort to surgery as most of them present with advanced disease. However, (the convention) has been helpful since there was a lot to learn from South Korean medical experts such as laparoscopic resection.”
Chairman of the board Han-Kwang Yang said, “We entered into a business agreement with Mongolia’s gastric cancer association to help better their medical system by sharing South Korea’s advanced medical technology in gastric cancer treatment.”
Chairman Yang also made a resolution to spread South Korea’s technology in gastric cancer treatment to other developing countries in the future.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
