The homepage of the Doctors' Association official shopping mall 'Uisajangteo' reporting that the mask supplier's shipments have been halted.
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Amid a nationwide 'mask shortage' phenomenon, concerns are emerging that even frontline hospital doctors, who should be focusing on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and treatment, may face interruptions in mask supply. Ironically, this situation has arisen due to the government's plan to secure the supply of public masks.
On the 3rd, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) issued an official statement saying, "Recently, the government has shown movements to procure the quantities that should be supplied to public sales outlets through the Public Procurement Service, and companies that were supposed to supply masks to the KMA have notified a hold on deliveries," adding, "If medical staff are exposed to COVID-19, they cannot protect the numerous patients with weakened immunity visiting hospitals." The KMA urged, "Immediately establish practical measures to prioritize mask supply to medical institutions."
On the same day, the KMA's official shopping mall, 'Uisajangteo,' announced in an emergency notice, "This morning (3rd), we received a sudden notification around 11:30 AM from manufacturers that due to a change in government policy regarding mask supply, shipments cannot be made." They added, "Uisajangteo is currently assessing the situation and preparing countermeasures." Furthermore, "Members who have already made reservations will be supplied with the scheduled quantities, and those confirmed for supply will be notified again." Uisajangteo is a shopping site officially operated by the KMA, where the association directly procures medical supplies from manufacturers and suppliers to sell to its members.
As the demand for masks surged due to the COVID-19 outbreak, causing a severe shortage, the government enacted the 'Emergency Mask Supply Adjustment Measure' on the 26th of last month. Starting the next day, it enforced a mandatory measure to sell about 5 million masks daily?50% of the domestic daily mask production?through public sales outlets. The government plans to gradually increase the supply quantity through these public sales outlets. The announcement by mask manufacturers that they could not ship masks to Uisajangteo is a result of securing the public supply quantity.
After this notice from Uisajangteo became known, a resident doctor at a university hospital lamented, "The mask supply at university hospitals is grossly insufficient," adding, "We dry and reuse N95 (protective masks) for five days, or when extremely busy with insufficient sleep, we wear a used mask for 36 to 48 hours."
The KMA stated, "Masks are essential supplies in COVID-19 prevention at medical institutions," and criticized, "It is now doubtful whether the government even has a basic concept of quarantine, as it cannot properly supply masks to medical staff fighting desperately on the front lines of patient care, even on a paid basis rather than free of charge."
They continued, "If the government wants to succeed in quarantine and prioritize the health of the people, it must immediately establish practical measures to prioritize mask supply to medical institutions as already promised," emphasizing, "If the government cannot properly supply even the most basic quarantine supplies to medical institutions, the failure of quarantine will be entirely the government's responsibility."
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