Korea's Medical College and Hospital at Taegu

War seriously affected the medical education facilities in South Korea, resulting in direct war damage, lack of maintenance, and a reduction in the number of qualified instructors. Under the aid-programme for 1953, the UN Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) has rehabilitated the Taegu Medical College and Hospital, rebuilt some of the damaged buildings, and supplied modern equipment at a cost of $235,000. However, owing largely to the need of the Korean armed forces for medical service, a comprehensive teaching staff was practically inexistent. In response to an appeal by UNKRA, the Swiss Federal Council provided a Swiss Medical Mission to give the necessary technical advice and guidance for the restoration of the teaching facilities. Fourteen Swiss medical, technical and administrative personnel are now working at Taegu Hospital, and an extensive medical and nurse-training curriculum has been started.
Eye diseases being very prevalent in Korea, UNKRA equipped Taegu Hospital with an up-to-date Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Song Cho Young examines a patient's eye with a slit lamp microscope.