Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Rushes to Minimize Residents' Inconvenience Due to Medical Service Gaps

Encouragement for On-site Workers Visiting Suncheon Seonggarolo Hospital

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok is working tirelessly to minimize the inconvenience to residents caused by the medical vacuum resulting from doctors' collective action related to the increase in medical school admissions.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 29th, Governor Kim visited Suncheon St. Carollo Hospital on the same day to inspect the emergency medical system and encourage the staff.

Governor Kim said, "St. Carollo Hospital was a medical institution dedicated to the residents during the COVID-19 pandemic," and added, "I am grateful to the medical staff who are staying by the patients' side even in this medical vacuum situation."

He then listened to the hospital director's emergency medical measures in preparation for the departure of medical staff and urged, "Since the current medical vacuum situation may prolong, I ask the hospital to prepare countermeasures to ensure that there is no disruption in emergency patient care."

He also emphasized, "As disruptions in large hospitals' medical services are expected, an increase in patients at secondary medical institutions like St. Carollo Hospital is also anticipated," and added, "Please make efforts to prevent any disruption in medical care for vulnerable groups."

Following the government's announcement on the 6th to increase medical school admission quotas and the continued opposition from the medical community, the government raised the health and medical disaster crisis alert to the 'severe' level on the 23rd.

In response, Jeonnam Province has formed a disaster safety countermeasures headquarters for doctors' collective action. A hotline has been established to enable 24-hour emergency treatment, maintaining an emergency medical system, and the working hours of three public medical institutions in the province have been extended by two hours on weekdays.

Additionally, cooperation with related organizations such as the Jeonnam Emergency Medical Support Center, Jeonnam Fire Headquarters, and Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency has been strengthened to minimize the medical vacuum. In preparation for worsening conditions, plans are in place to reduce medical service gaps through various methods, including extending health center hours and deploying public health doctors if necessary.

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