Government: "Large-scale temporary beds in gyms are not suitable for critical patient care"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the shortage of severe COVID-19 hospital beds worsens, the government has expressed an inappropriate stance regarding experts' opinions that large-scale temporary intensive care beds should be prepared using gymnasiums and other facilities.

On the 9th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated in a back briefing, "Gymnasiums or outdoor tent beds are not suitable facilities for caring for critically ill patients," adding, "The quality of medical services could decline."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the same day, the number of critically ill patients reached 857, setting a new record high. As of 5 p.m. the previous day, the utilization rate of severe COVID-19 beds in the metropolitan area reached 85.0%, indicating saturation.

In response, some experts have proposed installing temporary intensive care beds in gymnasiums and similar facilities to resolve the bed shortage crisis.

Son said, "Intensive care units in medical institutions are advanced facilities that manage patients in enclosed environments with strict infection control while optimizing all medical conditions such as body temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity," adding, "It is difficult to provide such management in gymnasiums or outdoor tents."

He continued, "Perhaps such proposals refer to general wards rather than intensive care units," expressing a negative view by saying, "I am not sure if it is medically feasible to install intensive care beds in gymnasiums."

Park Hyang, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine division, also said, "We are expanding severe and semi-severe beds through administrative orders, and additional private hospitals focusing on COVID-19 treatment have been added, resulting in securing moderate to severe beds exceeding the target (690 beds) with 1,103 beds."

Park added, "Some public hospitals are exclusively treating COVID-19 by suspending general medical services, and some private hospitals also have beds dedicated to COVID-19 treatment. The National Medical Center (NMC) is operating modular beds," emphasizing, "We are securing beds as much as possible within the current medical system."

However, Park explained that there are difficulties in securing beds due to issues such as medical staff fatigue, personnel management, movement control, and facility problems like ventilation.

He emphasized, "If a ward is created in a gymnasium, not only beds but also medical personnel must accompany it," adding, "Effectiveness can only be achieved by giving up existing general medical services and focusing solely on COVID-19 treatment," highlighting potential inefficiency.

He further stated, "If it becomes difficult to secure additional beds within the medical system itself, temporary wards can be considered," and added, "We will exchange opinions with experts and consider this from a long-term perspective."