Inha University College of Medicine Affiliated Hospital has been designated as a Pediatric Public Specialized Medical Center, a dedicated medical institution for severe pediatric patients.
The Pediatric Public Specialized Medical Center is designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare through a public application process for medical institutions that meet certain standards of personnel, facilities, and equipment according to the "Public Specialized Medical Center Designation Criteria (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice)." It will specialize in treating severe pediatric patients who are difficult to manage at primary and secondary hospitals and clinics within the region.
The medical fields include pediatrics (infectious diseases, endocrinology, cardiology, etc.), pediatric surgery (neurosurgery, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, etc.), pediatric mental health, and pediatric rehabilitation medicine. Based on a pool of specialists, it will provide comprehensive medical services to children and adolescents within the region.
As of last year, the population of children and adolescents under 19 in Incheon was 481,682, the highest among metropolitan cities except for Seoul, but the number of specialists is severely insufficient.
In a situation where pediatric medical resources are poor relative to the local population, the designation of Inha University Hospital as a Pediatric Public Specialized Medical Center has established a specialized pediatric and adolescent medical infrastructure.
Considering the low profitability and significant regional supply disparities in the pediatric care field, once designated as a Pediatric Public Specialized Medical Center, the institution can receive health insurance fee support and budget support for essential medical equipment purchases from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, provided that certain standards of personnel,
facilities, and equipment are secured and maintained.
Earlier, in April, Inha University Hospital opened a Pediatric Specialized Emergency Medical Center designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The center operates a separate pediatric emergency room distinct from the adult emergency room, is equipped with age-specific medical equipment for children, and provides specialized care 24 hours a day by pediatric emergency physicians.
An official from Incheon City stated, "With the designation of Inha University Hospital as a Pediatric Public Specialized Medical Center and Pediatric Specialized Emergency Medical Center, we expect the level of public health medical services for children in the Incheon area to improve significantly."
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