124 Out of 1,053 Local Clinic-Level Medical Institutions Reported Closed on the 18th
Emergency Medical Institutions Provide 24-Hour Care... Honam Regional Rehabilitation Hospital Extends Hours by 2 Hours
Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Ki-jung) announced on the 17th that it will activate an emergency medical treatment system on the 18th in response to the collective medical strike.
On the 10th, Gwangju issued medical treatment orders and strike notification orders to 1,053 local clinic-level medical institutions. As a result, 124 institutions, accounting for 11.8% of all medical institutions, reported a strike.
Gwangju will issue a work commencement order on the 18th, the day of the strike, in consultation with the five autonomous districts.
In addition, dedicated officers for private practitioners will be assigned at the district health centers to monitor strike status, and on-site inspections and evidence collection will be conducted targeting striking medical institutions according to government policies.
The Honam Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, a public medical institution, will extend its treatment hours by 2 hours until 7:30 PM, and 21 emergency medical institutions will operate a 24-hour emergency medical treatment system to actively cooperate for prompt and smooth patient transfer and referral.
Advanced general hospitals such as Chonnam National University Hospital and Chosun University Hospital announced their participation in the collective strike but will maintain essential treatments such as emergency rooms and intensive care units, and will decide on strike participation autonomously, so large-scale confusion is not expected.
The Gwangju Christian Hospital, a public late-night children's hospital, will operate year-round until midnight, and the Gwangju Central Hospital, a Moonlight Children's Hospital, will operate until 11 PM on weekdays, 9 PM on Saturdays, and 6 PM on Sundays and public holidays.
Information on medical institutions open on the day of the collective strike can be confirmed through the Emergency Medical Portal, 129 (Health and Welfare Call Center), 119 (Emergency Situation Management Center), National Health Insurance Service, and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service call centers.
Son Ok-su, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau, said, "As the medical community has announced a collective strike on the 18th, there are concerns about inconvenience to citizens," and added, "We will do our best to operate the emergency medical treatment system to minimize citizens' anxiety and damage."
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