Yoon Visits 'Eorini Byeongwon': "We Will Spare No Support for Pediatric Healthcare System"

Directive to Eradicate 'Geonpok' Followed by Review of 'Soa Medical' System
Meeting Pediatric Patients and Medical Staff, Promising "Enhanced Support"
Promoting Expansion of '24-Hour Pediatric Specialist Consultation Center' and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 22nd, "We will spare no support to strengthen the pediatric medical system." This reflects his commitment to resolving the recent social issue of shortages in pediatric and adolescent medical personnel and support, aiming to establish an emergency medical system where citizens can receive essential medical services anytime and anywhere. Following the announcement to eradicate 'Geonpok' (construction violence) the previous day, President Yoon's visits to medical sites as part of his public welfare efforts are expected to continue for the time being.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon visited Seoul National University Children's Hospital located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to directly inspect the medical site and presented government support measures, stating, "We must ensure that there are no gaps in the essential pediatric medical system."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at a policy meeting on essential medical care, including pediatric treatment, held on the 22nd at Seoul National University Children's Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

This visit was made based on President Yoon's judgment that "strengthening social conditions so that children can grow up healthily is of utmost importance in the era of low birth rates." It also reflected the sense of crisis that the nationwide reduction of pediatric departments and the decrease in specialized personnel have led to a "collapse of the pediatric and adolescent medical system." In fact, the shortage of pediatric and adolescent doctors, combined with low birth rates and low medical fees, has caused a prolonged "recruitment difficulty" issue. Additionally, the suspension of inpatient treatment and nighttime emergency room care in pediatric and adolescent departments, mainly in hospitals located in the metropolitan area, has already been expanding.

In response, President Yoon toured outpatient clinics and attended the "Essential Pediatric Medical Policy Meeting" to discuss effective measures to strengthen the pediatric medical system. He particularly emphasized, "Children suffering from severe diseases are the most vulnerable whom the government must prioritize in care," and instructed, "University hospitals and others should carry out their duties with a sense of mission and do their best in severe pediatric care." President Yoon received a report from Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong on the current status of shortages in pediatric hospitals and medical staff, along with the "Three Major Pediatric Medical System Improvement Measures," and ordered prompt implementation of these measures.

The core of the government's announced measures includes ▲expansion of the severe pediatric medical system ▲elimination of blind spots in pediatric care during nighttime and holidays ▲securing pediatric medical personnel through appropriate compensation. Reflecting the government's medical policy principle that "pediatric care = essential medical care," the plan is to first expand the Children's Public Specialized Medical Centers to increase medical infrastructure that specializes in treating children with severe diseases such as cancer and rare incurable diseases. The centers will be gradually expanded to four regions currently without Children's Public Specialized Medical Centers: Incheon, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, and Jeju.

To ensure appropriate response during nighttime and holidays, starting from the second half of this year, the government will promote the expansion of compensation for the "24-hour Pediatric Specialized Counseling Center," which provides 24-hour consultations, and the "Moonlight Children's Hospital," which offers outpatient care during nighttime and holidays. Additionally, the government plans to compensate for unavoidable losses incurred by Children's Public Specialized Medical Centers through public policy medical fees and diversify employment methods to secure pediatric specialists. After the meeting, President Yoon reiterated, "We will strengthen government support so that medical staff can focus on treating children." He also requested, "Please share various good opinions from the field to ensure that effective measures can be implemented."

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