1. What led SCL Group to begin its work in Mongolia?

SCL Group has built a deep and meaningful relationship with Mongolia over the years. As we prepared for global expansion, Mongolia became the very first place where we took that step.

In the early 2000s, Mongolia was going through rapid social and economic changes. However, the healthcare system—especially in diagnostic testing—was not able to keep pace. There was a lack of structured systems, which made early detection and accurate treatment difficult.

Although Mongolia is geographically close to Korea and shares certain cultural ties, there was still a significant gap in access to advanced medical technologies. Recognizing both the urgency and the opportunity, SCL Group established MOBIO in 2003, the first automated diagnostic laboratory in Mongolia. That became the starting point for introducing advanced diagnostic technologies into the country.

At the core of this decision was a clear belief: a healthcare crisis in one country is ultimately connected to the well-being of the global community. Over the past 20+ years, we have focused on bringing our diagnostic expertise to where it is most needed and supporting the long-term development of Mongolia’s healthcare system.

2. What kind of projects have you carried out in Mongolia?

From the beginning, our goal was not simply to provide testing services, but to help shift the overall healthcare system forward.

With the establishment of MOBIO in 2003, we created a foundation where accurate and timely diagnostics could be performed locally at a global standard. Since 2004, we have also hosted annual international academic seminars, sharing advanced medical technologies and providing professional training opportunities in Korea for over 200 Mongolian healthcare professionals.

More recently, we have formed a strategic partnership with ACH International Hospital, Mongolia’s first private medical school hospital. Through our affiliate MediInfra, we are working to localize Korean clinical models while expanding a smart healthcare network, including the introduction of NGS-based precision diagnostics.

At the same time, we have remained committed to community-centered efforts. We have provided ongoing free health screenings for underserved populations and supported children with heart failure by bringing them to Korea for comprehensive care—from diagnosis through surgery. These efforts reflect our belief that meaningful healthcare impact happens both at the system level and in individual lives.

 

3. Mongolia has one of the highest rates of gastric cancer. What stood out to you about the healthcare challenges there?

One of the most striking aspects of Mongolia’s healthcare system is the imbalance between the high prevalence of serious diseases and the limited diagnostic infrastructure available to manage them.

Mongolia has the highest age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for gastric cancer in the world—approximately 28.56 per 100,000 population, which is more than three times higher than Korea. This reflects not only disease burden, but also underlying factors such as high-salt, meat-heavy diets and long-standing patterns of blood-borne infections.

When we first entered Mongolia, about 10.6% of the adult population tested positive for hepatitis B (HBsAg), and 9.0% for hepatitis C (anti-HCV). At that time, there were very limited screening systems in place to prevent blood-borne infections. In particular, insufficient donor screening meant that hepatitis C transmission through transfusions was a significant risk.

Recognizing this gap, we prioritized the establishment of an HCV PCR testing system through MOBIO. This helped improve transfusion safety and contributed to reducing infection rates.

What we learned early on was that before introducing advanced treatments, the more urgent need was to build a reliable early diagnostic system. Training local professionals and introducing standardized diagnostic processes became essential steps in supporting the modernization of Mongolia’s healthcare system.

Sources: WHO IARC GLOBOCAN 2022/2024; WHO Global Hepatitis Report 2024