Due to the Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic... Government to Introduce 'Respiratory Specialized Clinics' (Comprehensive Report 2)

Operating Two Types... Priority Implementation from Open Type
Expansion of Advance Payment System for Medical Institution Care Benefits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the quarantine system to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) transitions to social distancing in daily life (생활방역) starting from the 6th, the government announced on the 4th that it will promote the introduction of 'respiratory dedicated clinics' in preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

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 have agreed on the need to establish a new medical utilization system to prepare for the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 and the increase in respiratory patients during the fall and winter seasons."

◆Priority Implementation Starting with Open Clinics = The purpose of the respiratory dedicated clinics is to establish a systematic medical 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.

The government plans to designate two types of respiratory dedicated clinics: open clinics where local governments provide spaces such as public health centers and public facilities and local doctors participate, and medical institution clinics designated with infection prevention facilities. Kim, the General Coordinator, said, "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."

In the case of open clinics, respiratory disease patients will use dedicated clinics operated in cooperation between public health centers and local doctors, while general patients will use primary medical institutions, thereby separating their movement paths to prevent the spread of infection. Kim said, "We will first implement open 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."

He emphasized, "Since the medical community may face additional burdens such as securing facilities to establish clinics, the government will not spare related support and will cooperate so that medical staff can provide treatment with peace of mind on site."

The medical community welcomed the respiratory dedicated clinics. Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, said earlier that day at the COVID-19 Medical Volunteer Council held at Conference House Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, "The respiratory dedicated clinics were proposed by the medical community from the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak," and added, "We fully agree with the purpose and basic method and will actively cooperate."

He continued, "While gradually securing respiratory dedicated clinics, we must simultaneously establish a system where all hospital and clinic levels can safely treat respiratory patients," adding, "This system can be used not only for COVID-19 but also for responding to future new infectious diseases."

The medical community also requested the government to prepare specific treatment guidelines. President Choi said, "It cannot be said that respiratory patients will not visit general hospitals and clinics after the introduction of respiratory clinics," and urged, "Clinical data from domestic and international sources should be compiled as quickly as possible to provide appropriate treatment guidelines not only to primary medical institutions but also to medical staff in higher-level medical institutions."

Jung Young-ho, the newly appointed president of the Korean Hospital Association, said, "Hospitals must take the lead in quarantine efforts," adding, "We must detect COVID-19 early to prevent infection and participate in quarantine measures more meticulously and thoroughly, considering even the smallest details."

◆Expansion of Health Insurance Advance Payment System = The government also decided to expand the health insurance advance payment system to support medical institutions facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19.

The government will first extend the health insurance advance payment system, which was originally scheduled to be implemented until May, by one month for additional support. In particular, the payment for June, which will be extended additionally, will be paid in a lump sum in May to actively support medical institutions in financial difficulty to operate stably.

Kim, the General Coordinator, said, "Resolving the financial difficulties of medical institutions to an appropriate level is not only to guarantee the livelihood of medical staff and workers but also to maintain the proper functioning of medical institutions for quarantine purposes," adding, "The government is well aware that expanding support for medical institutions is a very important value in quarantine measures."

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