Promotion of Public Medical Fees for 'Essential Medical Services' Including Emergency Major Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, and Childbirth

Ministry of Health and Welfare Launches 'Essential Medical Services Expansion Task Force'

President Yoon Suk-yeol is receiving a departmental briefing from Lee Ki-il, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare (from the left), and Cho Kyu-hong, the 1st Vice Minister, at the presidential office in the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 25th that it has launched the 'Essential Medical Care Expansion Task Force' and held its first meeting to strengthen high-risk and complex essential medical fields such as severe emergency surgery, pediatric cardiology, and childbirth.

Led by the Ministry's 2nd Vice Minister, the task force will include related organizations such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service, and Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, jointly identifying tasks and preparing measures to restore and expand essential medical care.

Since the implementation of the national medical insurance and protection system in 1977, South Korea's healthcare system has rapidly established infrastructure and systems, achieving nationwide health insurance within 12 years in 1989, the shortest period globally. Compared to major countries, the medical cost burden is relatively low, and indicators such as infant mortality rate and life expectancy have rapidly improved, earning recognition for achieving world-class medical coverage.

However, as seen in recent incidents such as the death of a nurse at Asan Hospital, deficiencies have been pointed out in essential medical fields directly related to citizens' lives.

Accordingly, through the presidential work report on the 19th, the Ministry announced plans to introduce public policy fees to strengthen compensation by raising fees centered on high-risk and complex surgeries such as cerebral aneurysm craniotomy and heart surgery, as well as emergency surgeries. In pediatric and childbirth fields where demand is decreasing, the Ministry plans to expand infrastructure by raising delivery fees and supporting vulnerable delivery areas for institutions like children's hospitals that are running deficits.

Furthermore, the Ministry plans to expand the core healthcare workforce by supporting medical student training in special fields such as trauma, pediatric cardiology, and infectious diseases, expanding residency training in regional hospitals, and supporting the training of nurses dedicated to severe patients.

Lee Ki-il, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2nd Vice Minister, stated, "We plan to prepare measures to expand essential medical care as soon as possible so that citizens can access necessary medical services within the golden time anytime and anywhere." He added, "We will actively communicate with the Medical Association, Hospital Association, and various medical societies to gather opinions, identify tasks for the recovery and expansion of essential medical care, and prepare improvement plans."

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