Gyeonggi-do Provides Emergency Funding of 34.4 Billion KRW from Disaster Management Fund to Minimize Medical Service Gaps

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is visiting Ajou University Hospital and talking with hospital officials.

Gyeonggi Province will provide an additional 34.4 billion KRW from the Disaster Management Fund to minimize the medical service gap that has persisted for nine months.

The budget will be used for the recruitment of emergency medical staff at 27 medical institutions, including tertiary general hospitals in the province, as well as for night, on-call, and holiday work allowances for medical personnel.

Since February, Gyeonggi Province has already supported a total of 8 billion KRW for special allowances for emergency room dedicated doctors. With this additional support, a total of 42.4 billion KRW from the Disaster Management Fund will be allocated to protect essential regional medical services.

The Disaster Management Fund is a budget that local governments are required to hold above a certain amount to cover resources necessary for disaster prevention, response, and recovery. However, amid prolonged legislative conflicts with no resolution in sight, Gyeonggi Province has decided to provide additional support from the Disaster Management Fund to protect the lives and health of its residents.

Meanwhile, the emergency room at Ajou University Hospital, the central institution for emergency medical care in the southern Gyeonggi region, had limited operations since September due to a shortage of dedicated doctors. However, by utilizing the Disaster Management Fund to newly hire two dedicated doctors, it will resume normal operations starting December 1.

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, explained the reason for the Disaster Management Fund support decision, saying, "There are cases where hospitals to transport children with heat cramps cannot be found, causing over an hour of wandering, and for emergency treatment of a pregnant woman with twins, 93 hospitals were checked over four hours. The medical conditions are more difficult than during COVID-19. Nothing is more important than protecting the lives and safety of residents."

He further emphasized, "In a situation where there is no sign of resolving the legislative conflicts triggered by hasty medical reforms, the damage is borne entirely by the people. We urge the government to recognize the reality and respond responsibly to the current medical crisis, including emergency room refusals and disruptions in pediatric care."