Gyeonggi Province, Provincial Medical Center, Five Tertiary Hospitals Establish Joint Infectious Disease Response System on 5th

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has joined hands with five tertiary hospitals—Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Ajou University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, and Korea University Ansan Hospital—to establish a joint infectious disease crisis response system, including attracting an infectious disease specialty hospital.

Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-gwon, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Director Baek Nam-jong, Ajou University Hospital Director Han Sang-wook, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital Director Shin Eung-jin, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital Director Yoo Kyung-ho, Korea University Ansan Hospital Director Kim Woon-young, and Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Director Jung Il-yong signed the "Gyeonggi Province Infectious Disease Joint Response System Establishment Agreement" on the 5th at the situation room in the new building of Gyeonggi Provincial Government.

Through the agreement, each institution plans to cooperate mutually on ▲building a private-public cooperative network centered on regional infectious disease specialty hospitals ▲cooperating on crisis response planning and education and training ▲jointly hosting academic conferences and strengthening information sharing ▲operating an efficient medical system in accordance with joint response plans.

In relation to this, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will conduct a public call for Seoul metropolitan area infectious disease specialty hospitals until the 13th.

One hospital will be selected from tertiary hospitals in Gyeonggi, Seoul, Incheon, and Gangwon provinces through screening and evaluation committee deliberation, and approximately 44.9 billion won will be provided to establish 36 beds (6 intensive care units, 30 negative pressure rooms), 2 external isolation beds, and 2 negative pressure operating rooms.

Key roles of the infectious disease specialty hospital include ▲(Medical care and testing) diagnosis, testing, isolation and treatment of infectious disease patients ▲(Education and training) education and training for infectious disease response specialists in medical institutions within the region ▲(referral and transfer) assignment and transfer of infectious disease patients within the region.

The province plans to cooperate in early containment of infectious disease spread through rapid patient isolation and treatment in the event of mass new infectious disease patient outbreaks, such as COVID-19, centered on the Seoul metropolitan area infectious disease specialty hospital to be selected this year.

Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-gwon said in his opening remarks on the day, "As we enter the third year of COVID-19 occurrence, we have confirmed the importance of prevention and management of infectious diseases, and enhancing our capabilities in preparation for and response to epidemics and crisis situations," and "In these circumstances, the establishment of an infectious disease specialty hospital is a key element in overcoming COVID-19, and I hope everyone will make every effort to attract an infectious disease specialty hospital."