"Designated as a Hub Emergency Center to Accommodate Severe Emergency Patients... Budget Support for Medical Staff of 400" (Update)

"Investigation Requested for Those Who Leaked Emergency Room Doctor's Real Name... Strict Punishment Policy"
"Support for Military Doctors Dispatched to Emergency Room to Prevent Liability for Medical Accidents"

The government will designate about 15 regional emergency medical centers as 'hub regional emergency medical centers' to accommodate severe emergency patients such as those with cardiac arrest and cerebral hemorrhage. Additionally, a budget will be directly supported by the government to enable the recruitment of approximately 400 new doctors and nurses to secure personnel for emergency medical centers.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, Jeong Yoon-soon, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, announced this during a briefing on emergency medical care and emergency response. He stated, "Among the 136 regional emergency medical centers, about 15 capable institutions will be designated as 'hub regional emergency medical centers' to actively accommodate severe emergency patients such as those with cardiac arrest and cerebral hemorrhage." He added, "Designated medical institutions will receive fees calculated at the level of regional emergency medical centers to enhance the response capabilities of regional emergency medical institutions capable of severe treatment."

He continued, "Since the 9th, we have been surveying demand from institutions wishing to be designated through local governments, and we plan to complete the designation process within this week."

To ensure emergency medical centers can secure sufficient personnel, labor costs will also be directly supported by the government budget. Director Jeong said, "Among medical institutions expected to face treatment disruptions, priority will be given to those urgently needing labor cost support," and added, "Initially, a budget enabling the recruitment of about 400 new doctors and nurses will be promptly provided."

He also expressed regret over the distribution of a blacklist revealing the real names of emergency room doctors. He said, "The government will request investigations into those responsible and cooperate with investigative agencies to strictly punish them," adding, "At the same time, it is a time when the medical community's self-purification efforts are necessary."

He also stated that legal responsibility for military doctors dispatched to emergency medical sites will be mitigated. Director Jeong explained, "In June of this year, liability insurance was subscribed for dispatched personnel including military doctors," adding, "The compensation limit is about 200 million KRW per claim, and the self-pay portion will not be borne by the dispatched personnel but by the medical institutions."