Kim Hyeryeon, Chair of Seoul City Council Welfare Committee, "Opportunity to Revive the Significance of Public Healthcare in COVID-19 Response"

Seoul City Council to Cooperate in Preventing COVID-19 Spread at Seoul-Managed Facilities

Chairperson Kim Hye-ryeon (center) visiting the Seoul COVID-19 Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for encouragement

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Hye-ryeon, Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Seocho 1), emphasized the need for thorough inspections of welfare facilities located outside Seoul to prevent and respond to the spread of COVID-19, and requested active cooperation from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Chairperson Kim stated, “As citizens’ anxiety grows due to the community spread of COVID-19, there are many suggestions from the field that even facilities under Seoul’s jurisdiction but located in other regions require Seoul’s attention and active support,” adding, “It is necessary to actively prevent and inspect facilities outside Seoul as well,” urging Seoul’s interest and cooperation.

Currently, many disability-related facilities such as residential facilities for the disabled, psychiatric hospitals, and nursing facilities for the mentally disabled are either affiliated with Seoul or receive subsidies from Seoul but are located in other regions for operational convenience.

In response, Seoul stated that it is maintaining constant communication with institution staff to deliver infection control guidelines and manage residents related to COVID-19, and plans to secure and execute a budget for infection control supplies for prevention.

Chairperson Kim Hye-ryeon mentioned that among the patients occurring in Daegu Metropolitan City, five severely disabled patients will be admitted to Seoul Medical Center operated by Seoul, saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

She also said, “As the increase in confirmed cases in Seoul has eased, I hope Seoul can provide medical treatment to patients from other regions without discrimination while it has the capacity,” and added, “More than the meaning of public healthcare, I hope the noble spirit of medical practice itself under the Hippocratic Oath can be upheld.”

She continued, “Seoul has 12 municipal hospitals, among which Boramae Hospital, Seoul Medical Center, Seonam Hospital, and Seobuk Hospital are playing key roles in the current COVID-19 situation,” emphasizing the necessity of public healthcare by saying, “This opportunity made me reconsider the importance of public healthcare.”

Chairperson Kim stated, “As COVID-19 infections spread in the community recently, citizens’ anxiety is increasing,” and added, “So far, Seoul’s response to COVID-19 can be considered proactive, but some institutions, despite being under Seoul’s jurisdiction, risk being neglected simply because they are located outside Seoul. Also, even if patients are from other regions, Seoul should accept and treat them if necessary.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.