"COVID-19 Confirmed Patients Should Receive Treatment in General Healthcare System" ... Discussions Between Health Authorities and Medical Community

Expert Rapid Antigen Test 'Positive' Recognized as Confirmed Case
"Confirmed Patients with Other Diseases Should Be Treated by Specialists" Proposed

Health and Welfare Minister Kwon Deok-cheol (center) is speaking at the meeting of metropolitan area tertiary hospital directors for COVID-19 medical response held on the morning of the 10th at the InterContinental Seoul COEX Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government is discussing with the medical community plans to fully implement a system that treats COVID-19 confirmed patients within the general medical system.

On the morning of the 10th, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, met with heads of tertiary hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area at the InterContinental Seoul COEX and stated, "It is now time for the entire hospital medical staff to step up to treat Omicron patients." Attendees at the meeting included Jung Young-ho, President of the Korean Hospital Association, Oh Joo-hyung, Chairman of the Tertiary Hospital Council, and Lee Sang-woon, Vice President of the Korean Medical Association.

At the meeting, Minister Kwon said, "Although Omicron symptoms are mild, the demand for hospitalization has sharply increased among patients with other serious conditions such as cancer, chronic renal failure, and cerebral infarction," adding, "The current bed occupancy rate for severe and semi-severe cases is about 60%, but as the number of confirmed patients with various diseases rises, there are already considerable difficulties in bed allocation."

He emphasized, "In this situation, a system that treats Omicron patients only in designated COVID-19 negative pressure rooms is neither sustainable nor effective, so a transition to the general medical system is essential," and stressed, "Patients with mild COVID-19 and comorbidities urgently need a structure where they can receive treatment from specialists in the relevant fields within the respective wards."

Minister Kwon added, "Today, Seoul National University Hospital will present a case study on the treatment status of Omicron patients in general wards," and requested, "Referring to the case of Seoul National University Hospital and others, I repeatedly ask for the medical community’s cooperation so that more Omicron patients can receive timely and appropriate treatment within the general medical system."

He also proposed establishing a diagnostic system that confirms COVID-19 cases immediately upon a positive result from expert-use Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) without requiring PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing.

Minister Kwon said, "Under the current system, additional PCR testing confirmation and patient allocation by public health centers delay home treatment after a positive RAT result," and added, "To prevent symptom worsening to severe or critical stages through rapid testing and treatment, it is necessary to establish a diagnostic system centered on local clinics and hospitals."

He continued, "Once management plans for RAT-positive individuals are prepared, people with suspected symptoms will be able to receive testing and treatment simultaneously at nearby local clinics," emphasizing, "Especially for children under 11 years old, who are in the unvaccinated age group, they will be able to get tested and examined at nearby pediatric clinics, which will alleviate parents’ concerns."

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