"Preparing for Prolonged COVID-19... National Medical Center Secures 30 Negative Pressure Isolation Rooms"

Screening clinic set up outside the main building of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The National Medical Center has decided to secure 30 negative pressure isolation rooms. Negative pressure rooms are facilities equipped with systems that maintain a pressure difference between the internal space for patient treatment and the outside, preventing contaminated air inside from escaping. Patients with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are also isolated and treated in negative pressure rooms.

This measure was taken in response to a request from the Central Accident Response Headquarters, led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which recently sent an official letter containing this information. Given the high possibility of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for another widespread outbreak causing a large number of patients, this signifies a transition to a system that can continuously fulfill the role of a central infectious disease hospital.

Considering that there are currently no idle facilities, the medical center plans to establish temporary facilities in internal parking areas to equip negative pressure rooms. Earlier last month, following a proposal by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, discussions are underway among related ministries regarding relocating to the nearby Unused Military Engineering Unit site. This measure is also intended to prevent any operational gaps in running the central infectious disease hospital before building a new hospital after relocation.

The National Medical Center stated, "To strengthen specialized medical functions as an infectious disease specialized hospital, we plan to install an independent modular building equipped with 30 additional negative pressure isolation rooms on top of the existing infectious disease beds." It added, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare is providing necessary funding and has requested the center to perform its role as a central infectious disease specialized hospital in preparation for a future resurgence."

Alongside facilities for patient treatment, the Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases, composed mainly of clinical medical staff, will conduct research. They will develop detailed clinical guidelines dividing patient classification, treatment, and discharge criteria, as well as establish and analyze clinical information and conduct clinical trials related to therapeutics to provide evidence. The 'COVID-19 Transfer Support Situation Room,' which facilitates transferring patients to other medical institutions in regions with spare capacity when a specific area experiences a sudden surge in patients, will also be strengthened and operated.

The medical center emphasized, "For these functions to operate effectively in the field, the central government must actively cooperate and support legally and institutionally," and pointed out that "the 'separation of roles between quarantine and treatment' and the 'lack of a patient treatment system' must be promptly addressed."

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