Remaining Patients at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital Transferred to National Mental Health Center and Others (Update)

"Inappropriate Treatment Environment" Criticized...
Patient Transfer Began Since the Previous Day

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government has decided to transfer all 60 remaining COVID-19 patients at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyeongbuk to other hospitals. This decision follows expert on-site evaluations by the National Medical Center and the National Mental Health Center, which pointed out inadequate treatment environments.

Kim Kang-lip, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at a regular briefing on the morning of the 27th, "To provide the best medical care for the 60 psychiatric patients being treated at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital, we have decided to sequentially transfer the patients to the National Mental Health Center and other facilities starting from the previous day."

Initially, the government planned to implement cohort isolation at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital and continue treating non-severe patients there. However, following the expert on-site evaluation results from the National Medical Center and the National Mental Health Center the day before, which pointed out inadequate treatment conditions, it was decided to transfer all remaining patients to other hospitals.

Kim, the first chief coordinator, said, "Cheongdo Daenam Hospital lacks negative pressure facilities and has been criticized for insufficient specialized personnel and treatment equipment. We plan to secure wards at the National Mental Health Center and deploy additional specialized medical staff and treatment equipment to provide the best care."

The government began transferring patients from the previous day. After moving 18 patients, including 6 severe cases, to other hospitals the day before, an additional 19 patients, including 4 severe cases, will be transferred today. The severe patients transferred today will receive treatment at the National Medical Center.

Kim explained, "If possible, we plan to transfer additional patients by the 28th. For the remaining patients, as the (bed) density decreases, we will move patients currently on the 5th floor to the 2nd floor to enhance treatment effectiveness and care for them until the transfer is completed."