Seoul City Operates 12,000 Clinics and Pharmacies During Holidays… Oh "Maximizing Emergency Medical System"

Oh Se-hoon Discusses Measures with Heads of 6 Health and Medical Councils
About 1,800 Hospitals and Pharmacies Open Daily During Holiday Period
69 Emergency Medical Institutions Operating... Including Hospitals for Pediatric Patients

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will operate a 24-hour emergency medical system during the Chuseok holiday period and designate and operate more than 12,000 hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to ensure that patients with mild symptoms can easily receive treatment. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "We will maximize the operation of the emergency medical system during the Chuseok holiday."

On the morning of the 11th, Mayor Oh met with the heads of six health and medical councils at the Seoul City Hall video conference room to discuss and strengthen cooperation on emergency medical response measures during the Chuseok holiday, including the operation of "open hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the meeting, Mayor Oh said, "Seoul is operating an emergency medical management situation room to check the status of emergency medical institutions daily and prepare for emergencies. We aimed to have about 1,800 hospitals and clinics and pharmacies open daily during this holiday period, but currently, more than 2,500 are participating." There are about 1,200 hospitals and clinics and about 1,300 pharmacies, which is nearly double the number compared to last Lunar New Year.

In particular, the emergency medical system will be activated during the holiday. The health centers of the 25 autonomous districts will operate "emergency medical teams" for patients with mild symptoms, and all health centers will provide normal medical services on Chuseok day. Seven municipal hospitals will provide outpatient services from the 16th to the 18th, and five hospitals will remain open on Chuseok day. During this period, 5,922 "open hospitals and clinics" in Seoul will provide medical services. For the convenience of citizens, 6,533 "open pharmacies" nearby are designated and operated.

Emergency medical institutions and general hospital emergency rooms in Seoul will operate 24 hours as usual during the Chuseok holiday. A total of 69 emergency medical institutions will be in operation, including 31 regional and local emergency medical centers such as Seoul National University Hospital, 18 local emergency medical institutions such as Seoul Metropolitan Seonam Hospital, and 20 hospitals operating emergency rooms. Measures have also been prepared for situations where pediatric patients cannot access emergency rooms. Seoul operates eight "Our Child Safety Hospitals" (for semi-emergency patients) and three "Our Child Specialized Emergency Centers" (for severe emergency patients) 24 hours a day. Additionally, 13 "Moonlight Children's Hospitals" for outpatient treatment of pediatric patients with mild symptoms are also being prepared.

Mayor Oh also promised financial support to maintain the functions of emergency rooms and intensive care units. He said, "We have urgently injected 7.1 billion KRW to maintain the functions of emergency rooms and intensive care units that protect the most critical patients," adding, "This support fund will be used for emergency room medical staff allowances and operating expenses for follow-up treatments such as surgery after emergency care."

He urged citizens, "During the Chuseok holiday period, please use nearby neighborhood hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, or health centers if it is not an emergency." Mayor Oh added, "Emergency rooms should be reserved for truly urgent patients. If everyone shows a little more consideration and cooperation, we will be able to overcome this difficult time well."