Prime Minister Han: "We Will Expand COVID-19 One-Stop Treatment Centers to 10,000 Locations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced on the 1st that "the number of COVID-19 'one-stop treatment institutions' will be increased from the current 6,206 locations to 10,000 in the future."

In his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Prime Minister Han said, "Even if the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases increases, we will ensure that patients can receive stable treatment within the general medical system."

COVID-19 one-stop treatment institutions refer to medical facilities capable of conducting testing, face-to-face consultations, and prescribing treatments all in one place. Starting today, COVID-19 treatment institutions previously known by various names such as respiratory clinics and outpatient treatment centers will be unified under the name 'Respiratory Patient Treatment Centers.'

The government plans to reduce the disparity in hospital bed availability between regions in preparation for a resurgence in the second half of the year. Prime Minister Han explained, "Until now, except for the metropolitan area, hospital beds were allocated separately by local governments, causing discrepancies in bed usage between regions. Going forward, joint response offices will be established in seven nationwide regions to enable efficient utilization of hospital beds."

He also emphasized, "We will inspect and manage integrally the medical equipment such as mobile negative pressure devices and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) that were supported to 350 COVID-19 treatment hospitals."

Prime Minister Han expressed concern, saying, "After 14 consecutive weeks of decline, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has started to increase again this week. Recently, the detection rate of immune-evading variants has risen, and reinfections are also increasing."

He continued, "Assuming that the risk of infection control may increase due to increased movement during the summer vacation season, the government will organize the medical response system more swiftly and thoroughly."

Additionally, referring to the fact that SK Bioscience's first domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine received product approval on the 29th, Prime Minister Han evaluated, "This enables a more stable vaccine supply and raises our infectious disease response capabilities to a higher level."

He added, "We will continue to actively support more companies to achieve results in vaccine and treatment development."