Ministry of Health and Welfare: "Essential Medical Support Measures Being Implemented Without Delay... Proceeding with a Sense of Urgency"

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 9th that it is monitoring the implementation status of the 'Essential Medical Support Measures' and 'Pediatric Medical System Improvement Measures' announced earlier this year, and is working on prompt implementation and continuous supplementary measures.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kyoohong Cho. Photo by Dongjoo Yoon doso7@

As of the 3rd, the Ministry reported that the major tasks are being implemented without any setbacks. First, in connection with the phased expansion plan of severe emergency medical centers, five regional emergency medical centers were additionally designated earlier this month. In addition, the expert consultative group discussing the designation criteria for severe emergency medical centers has been expanded and reorganized, and a detailed pilot project plan will be prepared by the second half of the year. Regarding the reorganization of the cerebrovascular disease treatment system, enforcement rules concerning the designation and evaluation criteria for central, regional, and local centers were prepared and public opinions were collected.

The criteria for strengthening the designation and evaluation standards for advanced and general hospitals to enhance severe and pediatric care will be finalized next month. The medical quality evaluation will also establish and finalize improvement plans for essential medical-related indicators by the first half of the year. In the case of reorganizing the maternal and newborn care system, three obstetrics and gynecology clinics in delivery-vulnerable areas are scheduled to be newly selected this month.

As a measure to expand the pediatric care base, a pilot project compensating for medical losses at children's public specialized medical centers has been launched and is underway, with additional recruitment of institutions planned for the second half of the year. Last month, two pediatric specialized emergency medical centers (Inha University Hospital and Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital) were additionally designated, increasing the total to 10 nationwide, and two more centers will be recruited in the second half of the year.

The health insurance fee surcharges applied to severe emergency surgeries and procedures conducted at regional emergency medical centers and regional trauma centers will be expanded from 50% to 100%, and major fees for thoracic surgery, such as pediatric heart surgery, will also be improved starting next month. The 'Basic Policy on Bed Supply and Demand,' aimed at addressing regional bed imbalance issues, is planned to be promulgated by the end of June.

Im In-taek, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "We have been monitoring the implementation status monthly since the announcement of the Essential Medical Support Measures and Pediatric Medical System Improvement Measures. Going forward, we will continue to promote the measures more promptly so that the public and medical field can feel the effects, explain the implementation check results through field communication, and continuously make improvements."

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