Jeju Fire Department Operates 119 Emergency Response Headquarters in Preparation for Collective Action by Medical Residents

The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Fire Safety Headquarters (Chief Go Min-ja) announced on the 20th that it will operate the 119 Emergency Countermeasures Headquarters in preparation for the collective action of residents in response to the government's plan to increase the number of medical school students.

Following the government's announcement of the plan to expand the medical workforce on the 6th, residents at the five major hospitals nationwide have all submitted their resignation letters and decided to stop working from 6 a.m. on the 20th.

Accordingly, at the 119 ambulance sites, priority will be given to transporting "patients in critical condition," and to minimize delays in hospital transfers, the 119 Ambulance Situation Management Center will take full responsibility for selecting the receiving hospitals for emergency patients.

Based on the severity classification by the ambulance team, emergency patients will be transported to large hospitals such as regional emergency medical centers, while non-emergency patients will be transported to local emergency medical centers or emergency medical institutions.

In addition, to prepare for a surge in calls to the 119 emergency medical consultation hotline, the current two consultation stations (two personnel) will be increased to three stations (three personnel) during the strike phase and to four stations (four personnel) if the situation prolongs, reinforcing both the stations and consultation personnel step by step.

To minimize inconvenience to residents in using medical services, medical consultations and hospital guidance will be provided under a policy of courteous response.

Go Min-ja, Chief of the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, said, "We will do our best in cooperation with related organizations to ensure that the lives and safety of residents are not threatened by medical gaps related to the collective action of residents. As this is a time when mature civic awareness is more necessary than ever, with limited personnel needing to focus resources on emergency situations, we ask that patients with mild symptoms refrain from using 119 ambulances."

Jeju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Hwang Jeong-pil baekok@asiae.co.kr