Korean government donates medical equipment to Azerbaijan

15.10.2024, 13:07

A new phase in the longstanding cooperation between the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance (the Agency) and the Government of the Republic of Korea was marked on October 15, 2024, with the donation of essential medical equipment to Ganja City United Hospital. The donation was made under Korea’s “Official Assistance for Small-Scale Development” program and aims to enhance healthcare services for vulnerable groups in Azerbaijan, particularly children.

This initiative reflects the continued commitment of both parties to strengthen Azerbaijan’s healthcare system. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Zaur Aliyev, Chairman of the Agency's Board, emphasized the significance of the support: “The main goal of this project is to improve both the accessibility and quality of healthcare services across our country. The donated equipment will enable the provision of modern, high-quality care to the regional population under the mandatory health insurance.”

In his remarks, Vugar Gurbanov highlighted that the partnership with Korea also includes efforts to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals and expand access to medical technology:
“This cooperation is making a valuable contribution to the sustainable development of our healthcare system and the protection of public health in Azerbaijan.”

Lee In-Yong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Azerbaijan, noted the project's specific focus on cardiovascular care: “Providing hospitals with modern medical equipment for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is essential. Through this year’s small-scale official development assistance project, we are working closely with the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance to ensure Azerbaijani citizens receive safe and effective care.”

Ilkin Ismayilov, Director of Ganja City United Hospital, expressed gratitude for the support: “We sincerely thank the Korean Government and all involved institutions for this generous contribution, which will significantly improve the quality of care we can offer our patients.”

The donated equipment includes a range of advanced medical devices such as defibrillators, anesthesia machines, artificial respiration units, patient monitors, operating lamps and tables, electrosurgical units, surgical aspirators, instrument sets, and infusion systems. For the hospital’s intensive care unit, the donation also includes ICU beds, ventilators, pediatric ultrasound devices, and additional monitoring equipment. These tools are vital for the treatment of critically ill patients and those at high risk of mortality.

The total value of the donation is USD 500,000.

This is not the first instance of support from the Korean Government. In previous years, Korea has provided medical equipment to improve maternal and child health at state-run institutions and donated testing booths during the COVID-19 pandemic, further strengthening its commitment to Azerbaijan’s healthcare development.