Party and Government "Designate Lunar New Year Emergency Response Week... 250% Increase in Specialist Consultation Fees"

Ruling Party and Government: "Emergency Response Week to Include Increased Medical Fees"
Emergency Procedures Up 150%, Regional Support Centers Up 100%
"Maximum Number of Open Clinics, Hospitals, and Pharmacies to Be Secured and Operated"

The People Power Party and the government announced on the 16th that they will designate the period from the 20th of this month to the 5th of next month as the Lunar New Year Emergency Response Week and will implement a strengthened emergency medical system.

Kim Sang-hoon, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, stated at a briefing held after the party-government consultation at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day, "To strengthen the capabilities of emergency rooms and backup medical services, we have decided to additionally increase medical fees during the Emergency Response Week."

Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, and Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, are taking a commemorative photo before the party-government consultative meeting on the Lunar New Year emergency medical system and respiratory infectious disease spread inspection held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Specifically, during this period, the consultation fee for emergency medicine specialists will be increased by 250%, emergency medical procedures by 150%, and backup medical services and night/holiday consultations at regional centers by 100%. To minimize overcrowding in emergency rooms, patients with respiratory diseases will be intensively treated through 115 fever clinics and 197 respiratory disease cooperative hospitals. Additionally, medical fees will be increased for non-severe emergency patients treated at regional emergency medical institutions and emergency medical facilities.

The party and government also decided to strengthen the regional response system to prevent situations where high-risk pregnant women and newborn patients cannot access emergency rooms during the Lunar New Year holiday. Kim said, "We plan to encourage medical institutions such as 103 Dalbit Children's Hospitals and 114 Children's Hospitals to operate as much as possible for pediatric care," adding, "To address the gap in outpatient medical services, we will secure and operate the maximum number of clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies that are open." He further added, "We will designate one-on-one dedicated managers for all 413 emergency rooms nationwide to strengthen management."

Regarding the rapidly increasing respiratory infectious diseases, related ministries will form a joint task force for an all-out response. Kim stated, "We will continuously operate the respiratory sentinel surveillance system to immediately inform the public and related organizations of surveillance information," and added, "We will continue influenza vaccinations targeting seniors aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and children, monitor the stock of therapeutics, and actively consider utilizing government reserves if supply instability occurs."