Jongho Lee, Minister of Science and ICT, Conducts On-Site Inspection of Emergency Medical System at Nuclear Hospital

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT is attending the Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th, speaking about follow-up measures for the semiconductor mega cluster. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the 12th, Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, visited the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences located in Nowon-gu, Seoul, to inspect the Nuclear Hospital, which is operating an emergency medical system in response to the collective action of doctors, and to encourage the on-site medical staff.

The Nuclear Hospital, a cancer specialty hospital under the Ministry of Science and ICT, is operating an emergency medical system to treat severe cancer patients despite the medical vacuum caused by the departure of residents. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, only about half of the approximately 50 residents affiliated with the Nuclear Hospital are currently working. The Nuclear Hospital is also performing cancer surgeries by accepting cancer patients transferred from tertiary general hospitals in Seoul where surgery is difficult.

During the on-site inspection, Minister Lee Jong-ho toured the operating rooms and dialysis rooms, checked the emergency medical system, and urged that there be no disruption in the operation of the severe cancer patient treatment system.

At the subsequent meeting, the mid- to long-term innovation directions of the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences for extreme environment response, including strengthening bio-verification research, building smart hospitals, space radiation, infectious diseases, and complex disasters, were discussed. Attendees agreed on the need for the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences to leap forward as a cutting-edge biomedical science hub capable of faithfully fulfilling the role of a disaster response hospital in national emergencies.

The minister said, “Please make every effort to maintain the emergency medical system for treating severe patients such as cancer,” and added, “We will actively support the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences so that it can systematically perform the role of a public health medical institution in national emergencies and advance as a cutting-edge biomedical science hub.”

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