Gyeonggi Province Establishes 'Emergency Medical Care Plan' in Preparation for Medical Sector Collective Action

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Kap-dong] As conflict escalates between the government and the medical community over the expansion of medical school enrollment, Gyeonggi Province has taken steps to implement an emergency medical care plan to minimize potential medical service gaps.

Following the Ministry of Health and Welfare's issuance of a 'caution' level healthcare disaster alert on the 6th, the province has been operating an emergency medical care situation room from the 7th, establishing a hotline capable of rapid response in case of emergency. The province is also monitoring the medical sector situation and tracking the status of emergency medical care facilities.

Should the medical sector's collective action materialize, the province plans to minimize medical service gaps through 'expanded operation of public medical institutions,' strengthen the operation of emergency rooms and intensive care units at public hospitals, and activate an emergency medical care system including extended weekday consultation hours and nighttime medical services.

Additionally, the province plans to establish an emergency medical cooperation system utilizing emergency rooms and intensive care units at private medical institutions to provide necessary medical services to residents, with plans to continue informing the public through provincial and municipal government websites.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has directed all provinces and cities to establish emergency medical care plans, conduct inspections of 24-hour emergency room operation systems, advance identification of on-duty status by emergency medical institution, expand weekday medical consultations at public medical institutions, and prepare emergency medical care plans for each institution on weekends and holidays.

The ministry is also requiring the establishment of patient transfer and referral systems to other hospitals in case of medical sector collective action, prevention of essential medical service gaps, enforcement measures against institutions failing to provide emergency medical services, and implementation of emergency medical care plans at public medical institutions.

You Gwon-soo, director of the Healthcare Department of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We will make full efforts to thoroughly prepare for collective action by the medical sector and minimize medical service gaps that directly affect the health and safety of Gyeonggi Province residents."