Gyeonggi Province-Gyeonggi Provincial Hospital-Five Top-tier Comprehensive Hospitals Establish Joint Infectious Disease Response System on 5th

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has partnered with five top-tier comprehensive 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 the recruitment of specialized infectious disease hospitals.

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 Yu Kyung-ho, Korea University Ansan Hospital Director Kim Un-young, and Gyeonggi Provincial Hospital Director Chung Il-yong signed the "Gyeonggi Province Joint Infectious Disease Response System Establishment Business Agreement" on the 5th in the situation room of the new building at Gyeonggi Province Government Office.

Through the agreement, each institution plans to cooperate mutually for ▲establishing public-private collaboration networks centered on regional infectious disease specialized hospitals ▲supporting crisis response planning and education and training cooperation ▲co-hosting academic conferences and strengthening information sharing ▲operating efficient medical systems in accordance with joint response plans.

Related to this, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will conduct a public recruitment for the Seoul Metropolitan Area Infectious Disease Specialized Hospital until the 13th.

One facility will be selected from among top-tier comprehensive hospitals located in Gyeonggi, Seoul, Incheon, and Gangwon provinces through selection evaluation committee screening, with approximately 44.9 billion won in support to establish 36 beds (6 intensive care units, 30 negative pressure rooms), 2 outpatient observation beds, and 2 negative pressure operating rooms.

The main roles of the infectious disease specialized hospital include ▲(Clinical 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) patient allocation 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 COVID-19 or other novel infectious disease patient cases, centered on the Seoul Metropolitan Area infectious disease specialized hospital to be selected this year.

Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-gwon said in his remarks on the day, "As we enter the third year since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have confirmed the importance of infectious disease prevention and management, and enhanced capabilities for pandemic preparation and crisis response," and added, "In this situation, the establishment of an infectious disease specialized hospital is a key element for overcoming COVID-19, and we ask that everyone make every effort to recruit the infectious disease specialized hospital."