'Saving Essential Medical Care' on the Test... Pilot Project for Post-Compensation of Losses at Children's Public Medical Centers Underway

Participation of 9 Hospitals

Exterior view of the Pediatric Emergency Medical Center at Seoul National University Hospital.
[Photo by Seoul National University Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A pilot project in which the government compensates for losses incurred during severe pediatric care is being launched in earnest. Attention is focused on whether it can present a new alternative amid the crisis in the pediatric and adolescent medical system.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare held the 'Designation Ceremony for the Children's Public Specialized Medical Center Post-Compensation Pilot Project' on the 16th and discussed the main directions of the project with participating hospitals.

This pilot project was prepared as part of the 'Essential Medical Support Measures' to prevent the collapse of the specialized medical care foundation for severe pediatric patients and to ensure sufficient pediatric specialized medical services are provided regionally by compensating for unavoidable medical losses incurred during treatment. The government plans to analyze accounting data submitted by institutions to calculate standard support funds for medical losses and provide differential compensation based on the achievement level according to performance evaluation results.

'Children's Public Specialized Medical Center Post-Compensation Pilot Project' Institution Designation Ceremony. [Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare]

Through a call for participating institutions, nine hospitals were selected last month, including Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chungnam National University Hospital, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonnam National University Hospital, Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital, and Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital. Each hospital will also carry out specialized projects to strengthen care for severe pediatric patients. Seoul National University Hospital will establish a short-term care center for severe pediatric patients, while Severance Hospital will promote home medical care projects for severe pediatric patients and strengthen the functions of the pediatric specialized emergency medical center.

At the designation ceremony, the Ministry of Health and Welfare awarded designation certificates for the Children's Public Specialized Medical Centers to the participating institutions and exchanged opinions related to the pilot project. Along with reports on the current status of the main projects, suggestions for restoring the foundation of severe pediatric care were also collected. It was also reported that tasks for establishing a foundation capable of comprehensive severe pediatric care at a nearby metropolitan level were discussed.

Im In-taek, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "This pilot project is meaningful as the first step in introducing a public policy fee to revive the collapsing pediatric care by introducing a new payment system called lump-sum post-compensation." He added, "Through the smooth implementation of the pilot project, we will support the expansion of the foundation, including the workforce necessary for severe pediatric care, and strengthen the regional severe pediatric care system."