Ministry of Health and Welfare Conducts Emergency Inspection of Trauma Centers Amid 'Lee Guk-jong Incident'

Ajou University Hospital Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Ministry of Health and Welfare is conducting an urgent inspection of the operation status of regional trauma centers nationwide. This measure comes in response to conflicts arising between Professor Lee Guk-jong of Ajou University Hospital and the hospital regarding the operation of trauma centers. Meanwhile, Professor Lee has indicated his intention to step down as the center director, intensifying the controversy surrounding the trauma centers.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 20th, a council meeting involving directors of regional trauma centers nationwide will be held in early next month. Park Jae-chan, Director of the Emergency Medical Service Division at the Ministry, stated, "We decided to inspect the operation status of trauma centers following the conflict between Professor Lee Guk-jong and Ajou University Hospital." The Ministry has requested the attendance of Professor Lee and the directors of 17 centers nationwide. Noh Hong-in, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry, will also attend. Director Park added, "Since trauma center directors work directly with hospital management, we will listen to whether there are any difficulties in this regard."

The upcoming council meeting is expected to review the overall situation of center operations. There have been suggestions that, to timely transfer severely injured patients and provide appropriate treatment, separate trauma centers are necessary in addition to existing emergency medical institutions, similar to advanced countries such as the United States and Japan. Accordingly, the government has designated and operated regional trauma centers for over a decade.

Last September, at the "Seventh Doctor Helicopter Launch Ceremony" held at Ajou University Hospital Gyeonggi Southern Trauma Center, Center Director Lee Guk-jong is wearing a headset and talking with officials.

Since the opening of Mokpo Hankook Hospital as the Jeonnam Regional Trauma Center in 2014, 14 centers have been established up to last year with Wonkwang University Hospital in Jeonbuk, and Jeju Halla Hospital (Jeju region) and Jinju Gyeongsang National University Hospital (Gyeongnam region) are scheduled to open this year. Including the National Medical Center (Seoul), which currently treats trauma patients, a total of 17 centers have been designated. The Ministry supports an annual budget of approximately 50 to 60 billion KRW under the name of improving the severe trauma treatment system, including the recruitment of dedicated specialists and nurses.

The Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center at Ajou University Hospital, led by Professor Lee Guk-jong, initially failed to be selected in the 2012 public contest but was chosen the following year. Although there have been continuous criticisms that the trauma treatment system is insufficient compared to advanced countries overseas, and fees and budget support have been increased, it is reported that the workload for medical staff remains considerable.

Meanwhile, Professor Lee complicated the trauma center controversy further by stating in a media interview on the same day, "I will step down as center director and remain only as a professor." Professor Lee had a significant influence on establishing the domestic trauma center system while treating Captain Seok Hae-gyun in 2011.