Opening of Medical Coordination Center for Medical Support of Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families and Injured

On the 17th, the opening ceremony of the Medical Coordination Center for medical support for the bereaved families and injured related to the Itaewon incident was held at the Korean Medical Association's Yongsan Temporary Hall.
[Photo by Korean Medical Association]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Korean Medical Association held an opening ceremony for the Medical Referral Center to support medical care for bereaved families and injured victims related to the Itaewon incident on the morning of the 17th at the Seoul Yongsan Temporary Hall. Attendees included Lee Pil-su, President of the KMA, Lim In-taek, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Oh Kang-seop, Chairman of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, and Kim Dong-wook, President of the Korean Society of Mental Health Medicine.

The Medical Referral Center plays a role in connecting bereaved families and injured victims of the Itaewon incident, identified through counseling at the National Trauma Center, to appropriate psychiatric care if psychiatric treatment is deemed necessary or if the individual wishes to receive specialist care. The center is located on the 7th floor of the KMA building and, over the next six months, will match suitable medical institutions based on pre-registered facilities, considering regional accessibility and patient preferences.

Lee Pil-su, President of the KMA, stated, "This Medical Referral Center was established through close cooperation between the KMA, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, and the Korean Society of Mental Health Medicine. Currently, 97 medical institutions are matched, and we plan to expand this network to operate the referral center effectively. We will do our best to ensure that bereaved families and injured victims of the Itaewon incident receive appropriate treatment at specialized medical institutions without inconvenience."

Applications for participation in the Medical Referral Center are being accepted through the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association and the Korean Society of Mental Health Medicine. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to conduct follow-up management, including monitoring the referral status and treatment progress after the National Trauma Center connects the individuals to medical institutions.