The Multi-Ministry Life Cycle Medical Device Research and Development Business Group announced on the 26th that it will distribute the discharge care robot "Carebidet" launched by the corporation CuraCo, selected as one of the top 10 representative tasks, to 11 public nursing facilities in Seoul.
The Carebidet developed by CuraCo is a robot that automatically processes the excrement of patients with restricted mobility, such as the elderly, critically ill, and disabled individuals. The processing of excrement is immediate, and the entire process, including bidet and warm air drying functions, is carried out automatically.
Founded in 2007, CuraCo officially launched its product last year after 17 years of development and has expanded to 20 countries, including the United States and Japan. CuraCo has been recognized for its technological prowess by being selected as one of the top 10 representative tasks for the Multi-Ministry Life Cycle Medical Device Research and Development Business in 2024.
As a result of a one-year pilot program at two municipal nursing homes operated by the Seoul city government, the Carebidet received a 100% satisfaction rating, with 93% of the 111 elderly participants rating it as "very satisfied" and 7% as "satisfied." Consequently, the business group decided to expand the operation of the Carebidet to 11 institutions.
The business group has supported not only the performance improvement and commercialization process of the CuraCo Carebidet but has also participated in the product design process to enhance the usability and safety of the Carebidet, ensuring its establishment in domestic public nursing institutions.
After the Carebidet was selected as one of the top 10 representative tasks of the business group, it became the only Korean product registered in Japan's long-term care insurance system, receiving 90% in public benefit support. Furthermore, it was the first in Korea to be listed with a code by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), receiving support from the U.S. federal public insurance.
Kim Beop-min, head of the business group, said, "I am pleased that CuraCo, which was launched overseas before being introduced domestically, has the opportunity to distribute to public nursing institutions in Korea," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the support for the business group's research and development efforts and the distribution of domestic medical devices positively impacts public health and welfare fields in domestic nursing facilities."