Will Lee Jae-myung's 'Operating Room CCTV' Expand to the Private Sector?…Province to Accept Applications Until the 1st of Next Month

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is recruiting private medical institutions to participate in the 'Operating Room CCTV Installation' project, one of Governor Lee Jae-myung's core health policies. Gyeonggi Province plans to select a total of 12 institutions and support installation costs of 30 million KRW per institution.

The province explained that this project is significant as it is the first nationwide initiative where local governments support installation costs when private medical institutions apply to install CCTV in operating rooms, aiming to prevent medical accidents caused by illegal medical practices such as surgeries performed by non-medical personnel, prevent violations of patient rights, and ensure transparency in operating room management.

Previously, in September 2018, after conducting a survey and public forum on the 'Pilot Operation of CCTV Installation in Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Operating Rooms,' the first CCTV was installed on a trial basis at Anseong Hospital of the Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center in October of the same year. Subsequently, in May last year, CCTV installation was completed in all six hospitals of the Gyeonggi Medical Center, including Suwon, Uijeongbu, Paju, Icheon, and Pocheon.

According to a survey conducted by Gyeonggi Province targeting 1,000 residents aged 19 and older, 91% supported the 'Installation and Operation of CCTV in Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Operating Rooms.' Additionally, 87% supported the 'Expansion of Operating Room CCTV to Private Hospitals.'

Through this public recruitment, the province will select 12 hospital-level private medical institutions to pilot the installation and operation of operating room CCTV by the end of next month and support installation costs of 30 million KRW per hospital.

Any additional costs beyond the support amount must be borne by the institution.

Applications are open to hospital-level private medical institutions with operating rooms installed, as defined under Article 3 of the Medical Service Act. However, dental hospitals, Korean medicine hospitals, and nursing hospitals are excluded.

Applications will be accepted for four days from the 27th of this month to the 1st of next month, excluding Saturdays and Sundays. Applications can be submitted in person at the Gyeonggi Province Health and Medical Policy Division or by mail. Detailed information can be found on the Gyeonggi Province website.

The province will select the final supported institutions through a selection committee and other procedures during next month for interested medical institutions.

Gyeonggi Province plans to expand the project if the pilot operation this year is deemed effective after review.

Choi Young-sung, head of the Health and Medical Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "This project is a starting point reflecting the residents' desire for a fair medical environment free from illegal activities," adding, "We will carefully analyze the effects after this year's pilot project and plan to continuously expand it."