"Chuseok Emergency Medical Response Week Ends... Emergency Medical Support Extended"

Discussion on Additional Fees for Severe and Emergency Surgeries at Health Insurance Deliberation Committee
Maintaining 1:1 Dedicated Officers During the Bridge Holiday

As the Chuseok emergency medical response week, which began on the 11th, approaches its end on the 25th, the government has once again emphasized extending support to maintain the emergency medical system, including increasing health insurance fees for emergency rooms.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 24th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, "The emergency medical situation after the Chuseok holiday generally shows a trend similar to the emergency medical situation before the holiday," adding, "We plan to review and determine the extension period for each matter, such as the ongoing operation of individual emergency room one-on-one dedicated managers, financial support for personnel recruitment, and health insurance fee (medical service fee) support."

Earlier, the Ministry had announced that it would consider extending the period of fee support measures temporarily implemented during the holiday, such as additional consultation fees for specialists at regional, specialized, and local emergency medical centers, and additional fees for severe and emergency surgeries. Accordingly, the Ministry will decide on the health insurance fee support after discussion at the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee meeting scheduled for the 26th.

A Ministry official said, "Since follow-up treatment continuing from the emergency room is the core of emergency medical capability, we plan to discuss the extension of support for this at the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee."

The Ministry also plans to extend the monthly financial investment of 3.7 billion KRW for additional recruitment of medical personnel such as doctors and nurses. The dedicated managers assigned to each emergency room will also be maintained for the time being, as there are upcoming 'bridge holidays' such as Armed Forces Day on the 1st, National Foundation Day on the 3rd, and Hangeul Day on the 9th of next month.

According to the Ministry, as of this day, 406 out of 411 emergency rooms nationwide are operating 24 hours a day, excluding five locations: Kangwon National University Hospital, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, and Yongin Myeongju Hospital.

The average number of patients visiting emergency rooms in the third week of this month was 15,398, about 86% of the usual level (17,892). Among them, the average number of mild and non-emergency patients on weekdays was 6,352, approximately 77% of the usual level (8,285). As of noon the previous day, out of 180 regional and local emergency medical centers, 102 centers are capable of treating 27 types of severe emergency diseases.

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