President Moon: "Securing COVID-19 Hospital Beds Is Government Responsibility... Related Ministries and Private TF Must Directly Oversee" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 20th, President Moon Jae-in stated, "Securing COVID-19 hospital beds is entirely the government's responsibility," and assured that hospitals participating in COVID-19 treatment will receive sufficient financial support and compensation for losses. He also expressed his intention to directly oversee the hospital bed issue through a joint task force (TF) involving relevant ministries and the private sector.

In a special directive issued that afternoon, President Moon said, "The Blue House should form a TF involving relevant ministries and the private sector to resolve the hospital bed issue, directly manage the problem, and play an active role."

President Moon emphasized, "I appreciate the approximately one million citizens participating daily in the third vaccination dose, contributing to the driving force for restoring daily life," and reiterated, "Securing COVID-19 hospital beds is entirely the government's responsibility."

He reflected on the fact that despite preparations for the increase in patients, the measures were insufficient to support the phased restoration of daily life, and announced plans to expand medical response capacity through extraordinary measures.

President Moon urged, "National university hospitals should concentrate their medical capabilities on treating severe COVID-19 patients," and added, "Among public hospitals located in the metropolitan area, those that can should be converted into dedicated infectious disease hospitals. Private hospitals, such as private university hospitals, should actively cooperate to minimize treatment disruptions and medical gaps caused by public hospitals focusing on COVID-19 treatment."

He further instructed, "In preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 situation, actively promote the expansion of modular intensive care beds, similar to those currently operated by the National Medical Center," and added, "Please deploy as many public sector medical personnel as possible to COVID-19 patient care."

Regarding this, he requested that, except for the minimum necessary personnel, military medical officers and public health doctors specializing in COVID-19 treatment be assigned to hospitals treating severe COVID-19 patients, and actively consider assigning newly appointed military medical officers and public health doctors, who will begin their appointment training from the end of February next year, to COVID-19 treatment as well.