Strengthening Publicness of National University Hospitals... Establishment of 'Clinical Education and Training Center'

60 Billion Won Invested This Year to Prioritize Installation in 2 Hospitals
Public Medical Dedicated Organization Elevated to Deputy Director Level

Seoul National University Hospital, Jongno-gu, Seoul / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The government plans to elevate the public healthcare dedicated organization in national university hospitals to the vice president level and establish clinical education training centers necessary for resident training to strengthen the public nature of national university hospitals.

On the 11th, the Ministry of Education announced detailed implementation tasks to enhance the public nature of national university hospitals. This is a follow-up measure to the public healthcare system reinforcement plan announced last December.

There are a total of 10 national university hospitals nationwide: Seoul National University Hospital, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungnam National University Hospital, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonnam National University Hospital, Gyeongbuk National University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, and Jeju National University Hospital. National university hospitals provide medical education, research, and treatment and must fulfill the obligations of public health medical institutions under the Public Health and Medical Services Act.

The government will strengthen the cooperative system between national university hospitals and regional public medical institutions such as local medical centers. A linkage and cooperation model for public medical institutions will also be developed. The enforcement decree of the National University Hospital Installation Act will be revised to elevate the public healthcare dedicated organization within hospitals to the vice president level. This is to prioritize public nature enhancement projects and effectively mobilize human and material resources within hospitals.

Clinical education training centers will be gradually established in all national university hospitals. This year, a budget of 6 billion KRW will be supported to initially establish centers in two hospitals. The clinical education training centers will provide medical education and training programs that improve proficiency in medical technologies such as robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery by utilizing simulation practice programs.

Based on the management evaluation results of national university hospitals, plans to provide benefits to excellent institutions will be jointly prepared with related ministries such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The effectiveness of the management evaluation of national university hospitals, conducted since 2015, will be strengthened to encourage the fulfillment of the public role of national university hospitals.

In consultation with financial authorities, efforts will also be made to expand the national treasury support rate for national university hospitals. Currently, national university hospitals receive 25% of the total project cost for facilities and equipment, and national university dental hospitals receive 75% of the total project cost. Last year, the National Assembly also expressed opinions to prepare improvement measures for the national treasury support standards for national university hospitals facing financial difficulties.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "The function of national university hospitals is not only treatment but also to nurture medical personnel with the highest skills through quality clinical education and training, and to contribute to public health through continuous research on rare and intractable diseases," adding, "We will continue to provide necessary support and management so that they can fulfill their public roles in education, research, and treatment sectors."

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