Chuseok Holiday Local Governments Establish 'Emergency Medical Situation Teams'... 409 Emergency Rooms Assigned One-to-One Responsibility

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting During Medical Staff Collective Action

The government will establish situation rooms in each local government during the Chuseok holiday and manage 409 emergency medical institutions on a one-to-one dedicated basis.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 5th, Park Minsu, the First Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for the Medical Staff Collective Action (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), held a Central Disaster Headquarters meeting and announced, "During the Chuseok holiday period, we will establish and operate 'Emergency Medical Management Situation Rooms' led by local government heads as team leaders, and designate one dedicated emergency medical institution officer for each of the 409 emergency medical institutions nationwide to ensure timely action in case of any unusual incidents."

Park, the First Chief Coordinator, said, "We will closely cooperate with all local governments and medical institutions and conduct thorough inspections to ensure that the emergency medical measures we have prepared so far function properly," adding, "We will do our best to minimize disruptions in emergency medical services by mobilizing all available resources."

The government currently recognizes difficulties in the medical field but believes they can be overcome.

Park emphasized, "The difficulties faced in emergency medical care are issues that existed in the existing medical system, and fundamentally improving this is the reason the government is pursuing medical reform," adding, "We are closely monitoring emergency medical institutions facing operational difficulties and providing tailored support measures such as pinpoint deployment of necessary personnel according to the institution's situation."

He urged the Medical Association and resigning residents to "participate promptly in the Medical Reform Special Committee for constructive discussions aimed at the development of medical care in the Republic of Korea." He also reiterated, "If the medical community presents reasonable measures regarding the medical school quota for 2026, open discussions will be possible."

Park stated, "As the resident vacancy has prolonged for more than six months, leading to weakened backup care and some emergency medical staff leaving the field, we are facing a difficult situation," and requested, "Citizens are asked to use nearby small and medium hospitals and clinics for mild symptoms so that severe and emergency patients can receive treatment without missing the golden time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.