[2020 National Audit] Strengthening Infectious Disease Response While Improving the Medical Delivery System

Ministry of Health and Welfare to Establish 'Mid- to Long-Term Measures for Medical Delivery System Post-COVID-19' Within the Year

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo appeared at the Health and Welfare Committee's National Assembly audit on the 7th, taking the witness oath regarding the Ministry of Health and Welfare./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As health authorities reform the medical delivery system, they have also decided to pursue measures to strengthen infectious disease response capabilities, such as for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). A mid- to long-term plan is expected to be developed within this year.

On the 7th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced this plan during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee’s audit. The ministry has been working on reforming the medical delivery system to prevent patient concentration in large hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area and to create conditions where critically ill patients can receive timely treatment. The main content involves restructuring the evaluation system and compensation framework so that each medical institution can perform appropriate medical services according to its scale and function.

After releasing a short-term plan for medical delivery system reform last September and forming a task force to promote it in various ways, the ministry decided to incorporate the COVID-19 situation that emerged this year. As COVID-19 spread to a disaster-level scale, the system for treating infectious disease patients and other affected areas will be revised accordingly. This aims to prevent reduced accessibility to medical institutions for emergency patients and chronic disease patients due to infectious disease concerns.

Additionally, the ministry plans to comprehensively assess capabilities for COVID-19 epidemiological investigations, diagnostic testing, and critical care within this month, and to present measures to prepare for a possible resurgence as early as next month. Furthermore, with the plan to procure 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines finalized, the ministry will also consider additional procurement options based on efficacy and safety. To raise the level of public healthcare, the ministry will engage in discussions with the medical community, patient groups, and civic organizations, and will operate a medical-government consultative body.

The ministry also intends to secure personnel dedicated to investigating child abuse cases. This is a measure to prevent children from experiencing incidents like the Cheonan child death case, the Changnyeong stepdaughter abuse case, and the Incheon elementary school fire case that occurred earlier this year. After providing education and training to public officials specializing in child abuse investigations, the ministry plans to publicize child abuse investigations within this month. By the end of this month, opinions will be gathered on the 4th Basic Plan for Low Fertility and Aging Society, with a public hearing scheduled for next month to finalize the basic plan.

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