S. Korean university hospital to set up virtual clinic in metaverse

[Courtesy of Chosun University Hospital]

SEOUL -- A university hospital will build a metaverse clinic where patients can receive various medical services without visiting doctors in collaboration with Deltoid, a digital healthcare service provider in South Korea. Academic programs with foreign medical experts will be conducted in a virtual space that has no time or space restrictions.

Chosun University Hospital, based in the southwestern city of Gwangju, partnered with Deltoid to set up a virtual hospital in the metaverse world where users can interact with others using avatars. The hospital hopes to attract foreign patients through unique services such as virtual medical treatment.

Non-face-to-face medical services are gradually emerging due to an unending COVID-19 pandemic all over the world. In October 2022, Thumbay Group, a UAE-based healthcare provider, unveiled its scheme to build the world's first metaverse hospital. Using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices, patients can interact with doctors.

According to Emergen Research, a market research firm, the global metaverse market will grow from $47.7 billion in 2020 to $828.95 billion in 2028. Metaverse platforms have been adopted by many different sectors in South Korea to bridge the gap between online and offline spaces.

Kim Joo-heon jhkim123@ajunews.com

S. Korean university hospital to set up virtual clinic in metaverse

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