President Lee Visits National Medical Center,Pledges Support for Essential Healthcare
President Lee Jae-myung made a โvisit to the National Medical Center on the afternoon of September 29th,aiming to boost the morale of medical staff and assess preparedness for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. The visit underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring accessible and robust healthcare โฃservices for all citizens, notably as โthe holiday period approaches.
During โฃa tour of theโฃ facility, Presidentโ Lee inquired about theโ current situationโ regarding COVID-19 patients and โขthe potential for seasonal outbreaks.He expressedโ his โgratitude to frontline medical personnel for their dedication to maintaining a functional emergency department, acknowledging the critical role they play in public safety.
Following theโค tour, President lee convened a meeting withโข a diverse group of medical professionals – including โemergency roomโ doctors, trauma specialists, nurses, and representatives from โcentral emergency medical centers – to review overall readiness, address challenges, and explore potential โคimprovements to theโ system.
president Lee praised the high levelโ of publicโฃ trust in the nation’s healthcare system,attributing it to โฃthe tireless efforts of medical staff. He noted visible improvements in emergency room conditions, referencing the recent focus on addressing the issues previously known as โthe “emergency room unusual” situation.โ Though, he stressed โthe continued and vitalโฃ need to bolsterโ public, regional, and essential medical infrastructure.
A subsequent closed-door meeting saw National Medical Center Director Seo Gil-junโค propose a three-pronged approach to strengthening the healthcare network: reinforcing the severeโ essential medical network, optimizing the management of emergency medical resources, and establishing a systematic approach to handling emergency patients who may face difficulties accessing โcare.
Frontline medical staff voiced concerns about persistent staffing shortages, particularlyโ in provincial areas, stemming from recent legislative disputes and the resulting resignations. They highlighted the difficultiesโฃ in attracting andโ retaining colleagues due to perceived disparities in workingโ conditions.
Responding to these concerns, โฃPresident Lee pledged to work with the Minister of โHealth and Welfare to โdevelop a comprehensive support package for Corona Public Medical Centers facing revenue losses. He also โexpressed keen interest in expanding the use of doctor helicopters,โค seeking input โขon the optimal deployment strategy – favoring a centralized, nationwideโ approach over a regionally divided system.
Concluding the visit, President Lee urged the medical staff to prioritize patient care, stating, “Please take care of the scene so that the people can enjoy a peaceful holiday.”