Average of 2,737 Hospitals and Clinics Operated Daily in Japan... Medical Inquiries 129, 119, 120

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] An average of 2,737 hospitals and clinics open daily during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of the 16th, an average of 2,737 hospitals and clinics will be open daily during this Lunar New Year holiday (January 24-27). On the first day of the holiday, January 24, 2,803 hospitals and clinics will operate; on the 25th, 686; on the 26th, 1,066; and on the 27th, 6,393 hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies will be open.

Emergency rooms at 523 institutions (daily average) will operate 24 hours as usual. Even on the Lunar New Year’s Day, when many private medical institutions close, some public medical institutions including public health centers will continue to provide medical services.

Regarding pharmacies, an average of 3,943 will be open daily. On January 24, 5,536 pharmacies; on the 25th, 1,588; on the 26th, 2,291; and on the last day of the holiday, the 27th, 6,357 pharmacies will be open, the highest number.

Information on hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies open during the Lunar New Year holiday can be obtained through the Health and Welfare Call Center (129), Emergency Situation Management Center (119), and city/provincial call centers (120). It can also be found on the Emergency Medical Portal (www.e-gen.or.kr), the Ministry of Health and Welfare website (www.mohw.go.kr), and emergency medical information mobile applications.

The emergency medical information app shows hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies open nearby on a map based on the user’s location. It allows users to check consultation hours and medical departments, and includes useful information such as night-time medical institutions, locations of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and emergency treatment guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments operate emergency medical situation rooms during the Lunar New Year holiday to monitor the operation status of open hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. The Central Emergency Medical Situation Room (at the National Medical Center) operates 24 hours, and disaster medical assistance teams (DMAT) at 40 disaster base hospitals nationwide remain on standby, preparing for disasters and mass casualty incidents as usual.

Particularly, special caution is required from the public regarding the novel coronavirus infection, commonly called 'Wuhan pneumonia.'

Yoon Tae-ho, Director of Public Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, “We will do our best to operate the emergency medical system so that the public can spend a comfortable Lunar New Year holiday without worry when they suddenly fall ill.”