Government to Introduce 'Respiratory Dedicated Clinics'... Starting with Open-Type Operation (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government announced on the 4th that it plans to designate and operate 'Respiratory Dedicated Clinics' to protect medical institutions from infections and ensure safe treatment for patients.

Kim Kang-lip, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, "The government and the medical community agreed on the need to establish a new medical utilization system in preparation for the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 and the increase in respiratory patients during the fall and winter seasons."

The purpose of the Respiratory Dedicated Clinics is to establish a systematic treatment system for initial respiratory and fever patients. Their functions include ▲ diagnosis and prescription ▲ specimen collection and diagnostic testing if COVID-19 testing is deemed necessary, or referral to public health center screening clinics ▲ contacting health authorities and taking measures if confirmed positive.

Coordinator Kim said, "We will first implement open-type clinics and improve them while receiving applications with the cooperation of the Korean Medical Association and local medical associations to sequentially designate and operate medical institution clinics."

The government plans to designate two types of Respiratory Dedicated Clinics: open-type clinics where local governments provide spaces such as public health centers and public facilities and local doctors participate, and medical institution clinics equipped with infection prevention facilities.

Coordinator Kim stated, "We plan to promote this as a win-win model of public-private cooperation," adding, "Detailed plans and guidelines will be prepared in early May in consultation with the medical community."

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