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Busan Expands Pediatric Night and Holiday Care in Underserved Areas: Strengthening Essential Medical Services Through Expanded Moonlight Children’s Hospital Linkages

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that two medical institutions selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s public contest project, “Project to Foster Pediatric Night and Holiday Care Providers in Underserved Areas,” will begin operations sequentially starting this month.

This initiative aims to establish a foundation for pediatric outpatient care during nights and holidays in areas where Moonlight Children’s Hospitals are not currently in operation, and to create conditions for their future expansion and transition into such facilities.

The selection of participating institutions was conducted through a public contest held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare from March 10 to March 20. A selection committee composed of academic experts and related specialists comprehensively evaluated the necessity of the project—such as gaps in pediatric night and holiday care—and the institutions’ pediatric care capabilities, ultimately selecting 14 medical institutions across 9 cities and provinces nationwide.

The project specifically targets underserved areas lacking Moonlight Children’s Hospitals. Unlike the fixed operating hours of existing Moonlight Children’s Hospitals, participating institutions can flexibly operate pediatric night and holiday care services within a weekly limit of 20 hours in consultation with local governments.

The two institutions selected in Busan are W365 Medical Clinic in Nam-gu and Ilsin Christian Hospital in Dong-gu.

In Busan, some districts currently lack Moonlight Children’s Hospitals, resulting in regional disparities in access to pediatric care during nights and holidays. This selection is significant in that it proactively secures a foundation for expanding such services in underserved areas.

W365 Medical Clinic will begin operations on April 14, and Ilsin Christian Hospital on April 21. Both institutions will provide more than 20 hours of pediatric outpatient services per week, including weekday evenings and weekends and public holidays, thereby helping to address gaps in local night and holiday care.

The city will provide participating institutions with up to KRW 120 million annually (50% national funding, 50% local funding) for personnel and operational costs. Based on operational performance, Busan Metropolitan City plans to continuously manage these institutions to facilitate their eventual designation as Moonlight Children’s Hospitals.

This initiative is intended to serve as a catalyst by enabling the accumulation of experience in pediatric night and holiday care in areas without Moonlight Children’s Hospitals, while also laying the groundwork for participating institutions to transition into such facilities in the future.

It is also expected to alleviate healthcare gaps in areas with insufficient pediatric services, improve access to medical care for citizens, and contribute to enhancing local living conditions.

Meanwhile, Busan Metropolitan City continues to expand and operate existing Moonlight Children’s Hospitals. Among them, Jeonggwan Woori Children’s Hospital in Gijang-gun operates a 24-hour, 365-day care system, providing a stable foundation for pediatric night and holiday care.

Building on this operational experience, the city is pursuing a phased expansion strategy to reduce regional healthcare disparities by extending pediatric night and holiday services to areas without Moonlight Children’s Hospitals through linkage with this underserved-area project.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Creating an environment where children can receive care with peace of mind regardless of time or location when they are ill is of utmost importance. The operation of pediatric care institutions in underserved areas marks an important starting point in expanding the foundation leading to Moonlight Children’s Hospitals and will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen Busan’s essential pediatric healthcare system.”

He added, “We will continue to expand Moonlight Children’s Hospitals by closely reflecting regional healthcare conditions and build a healthcare safety net that citizens can truly experience.”