Ministry of Health and Welfare Operates 7,931 Facilities Daily... 518 Emergency Medical Institutions
Emergency Room Consultation Fees and Severe/Emergency Surgery Charges Also Increased
During the Chuseok holiday period from the 14th to the 18th, nearly 8,000 hospitals and clinics nationwide are expected to open daily on average. Additionally, the holiday surcharge rate for hospital and clinic consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees will be temporarily increased from the existing 30% to around 50% during this year’s Chuseok holiday.
On the 9th, Jeong Yoon-sun, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated in a briefing on emergency medical and other urgent care responses, "As a result of applications received through each city and province, the number of on-duty hospitals and clinics opening during the Chuseok holiday period is tentatively counted at an average of 7,931 per day." This is about 2.2 times the number of on-duty hospitals and clinics operating during this year’s Lunar New Year holiday period (an average of 3,643 per day).
First, on the first day of the holiday, the 14th of this month, 27,766 hospitals and clinics will open. On the following day, the 15th, 3,009 places will open, and on the 16th, 3,254 places will be open. On Chuseok day, the 17th, 1,785 places will provide care, and on the last day of the holiday, the 18th, 3,840 places will be open. Compared to the 1,622 hospitals and clinics that opened on Lunar New Year’s Day this year, the number of hospitals and clinics opening on Chuseok day this year will increase by about 10%.
The government plans to accept additional applications through local governments from medical institutions that intend to open during the Chuseok holiday period but have not yet applied.
Director Jeong said, "During the four days of this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, only two days saw more than 3,000 medical institutions open, whereas during the Chuseok holiday, except for the holiday itself, more than 3,000 on-duty hospitals and clinics will operate daily," adding, "this is a tentative figure based on applications received so far and may change to some extent."
The government also plans to provide additional support for health insurance fees during this Chuseok holiday period. Until now, the holiday surcharge rate for hospital and clinic consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees has been applied at 30%, but this year, it will be temporarily increased to about 50% during the Chuseok holiday.
Emergency medical institutions and facilities will operate at a consistent nationwide total of 518 locations daily. Regional emergency medical centers and specialized emergency medical centers will additionally increase specialist consultation fees. For the two weeks before and after the Chuseok holiday, emergency room specialist consultation fees under the emergency medical system will be paid at 150% surcharge plus an additional 100%, resulting in a total of 3.5 times the pre-emergency care consultation fee.
Fees for severe and emergency surgeries performed within 24 hours of emergency room visits will also be increased. Since February this year, fees have been paid at 2.5 times the usual rate to strengthen follow-up care capabilities, and for the two weeks before and after the Chuseok holiday, an additional 50% surcharge will be applied.
Emergency room outpatient consultation fees will also be expanded to general emergency medical facilities, with fee increases applied. Recently designated COVID-19 cooperative hospitals will receive an incentive of 200,000 KRW for each confirmed patient admitted, and compensation for night and holiday care will be strengthened for 108 government-designated fever clinics.
Director Jeong urged, "We ask the public to visit appropriate medical institutions according to the severity of their illness," adding, "If you think it is a serious condition, immediately call 119 to be guided to available medical institutions; otherwise, please first visit local hospitals, clinics, or emergency rooms of small and medium-sized hospitals."
Meanwhile, regarding the archive-style website titled 'List of Thankful Doctors' that maliciously discloses personal information of doctors working in emergency rooms, Director Jeong criticized, "It is undermining the morale and work motivation of doctors working on the front lines," and called it "an unacceptable criminal act that intimidates doctors who save patients’ lives."
He continued, "Some military doctors are suffering from social phobia due to such incidents and are going through painful times," warning, "The government will request investigations and strictly punish illegal acts that maliciously disclose doctors who are diligently working in medical settings."
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