[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Amid ongoing controversy following the Ministry of Economy and Finance's recent decision to reduce the scale of the National Medical Center's new construction and relocation project, the first committee meeting of the year to discuss the relocation of the National Medical Center was held.
On the afternoon of the 7th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it held the '1st Committee Meeting on the New Construction and Relocation of the National Medical Center and the Establishment of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital' at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul. The meeting was attended by a total of 24 members, including co-chairman Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, Ju Young-su, director of the National Medical Center, government members (Ministry of National Defense, Seoul City), and civilian members from fields such as medical treatment, infectious diseases, architecture, and public healthcare.
The committee is an advisory and deliberative body formed in February last year to systematically and comprehensively support the new construction project, aiming to simultaneously build the main National Medical Center, the Central Infectious Disease Hospital, and the Central Trauma Center. During the meeting, reports were presented on the progress of the new construction and relocation project so far, as well as the comprehensive plan for the establishment and operation of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital.
Vice Minister Park said, "We are aware of domestic and international concerns regarding the reduction in the total project cost and bed capacity of the main center, which may weaken the public healthcare safety net," adding, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare will proceed with administrative procedures such as design competitions on schedule, considering the completion date (2027), and will actively review the issue of increasing the number of beds in the future with the Ministry of Finance, taking into account the functions and roles of the National Medical Center in responding to essential medical needs such as infectious diseases, severe emergencies, and trauma."
Previously, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Medical Center requested a total of 1,050 beds for the new construction and relocation project, including 800 beds for the main center, 150 beds for the Central Infectious Disease Hospital, and 100 beds for the Central Trauma Center. However, the Ministry of Economy and Finance deemed a total of 760 beds appropriate?526 beds for the main center, 134 beds for the Central Infectious Disease Hospital, and 100 beds for the Central Trauma Center?and reduced the project budget from 1.2341 trillion won to 1.1726 trillion won. This decision has sparked backlash from both inside and outside the National Medical Center, as well as from civic groups.
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