To address the concentration of large hospitals in the metropolitan area and the crisis in regional and essential medical services, the government is launching a national master plan to rebuild the healthcare network. The plan focuses on establishing a comprehensive regional healthcare system divided into '5 major and 3 special' care zones, along with enhancing compensation for essential medical personnel and expanding the medical accident safety net.
On July 22, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced its strategy to ensure that everyone receives proper medical care, regardless of where they live, under the initiative titled "Strengthening Regional, Essential, and Public Healthcare."
The core of this strategy is to build a comprehensive regional healthcare supply system. The government will categorize the nation into major care zones (5 major and 3 special for severe treatment), medium care zones (one or more cities or counties for moderate treatment), and small care zones (cities or counties for mild treatment and health management).
Specifically, the government will focus on developing local national university hospitals to the level of the so-called 'Big 5' hospitals in the metropolitan area, enabling them to provide comprehensive care for complex severe diseases. In medium care zones, the government plans to expand and develop 41 regional public hospitals, including local medical centers and Red Cross hospitals, while in small care zones, it aims to introduce a 'Korean-style family doctor' system and establish 'public health clinics' to fill healthcare gaps in rural areas.
On July 22, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced its strategy to ensure that everyone receives proper medical care, regardless of where they live, under the initiative titled "Strengthening Regional, Essential, and Public Healthcare."
The core of this strategy is to build a comprehensive regional healthcare supply system. The government will categorize the nation into major care zones (5 major and 3 special for severe treatment), medium care zones (one or more cities or counties for moderate treatment), and small care zones (cities or counties for mild treatment and health management).
Specifically, the government will focus on developing local national university hospitals to the level of the so-called 'Big 5' hospitals in the metropolitan area, enabling them to provide comprehensive care for complex severe diseases. In medium care zones, the government plans to expand and develop 41 regional public hospitals, including local medical centers and Red Cross hospitals, while in small care zones, it aims to introduce a 'Korean-style family doctor' system and establish 'public health clinics' to fill healthcare gaps in rural areas.
To support these initiatives, a special fund of 1.2 trillion won for regional essential medical care will be established by 2027, along with the introduction of an annual 400 billion won regional fee system.
The government's responsibility for essential medical services, including emergency, trauma, maternity, and pediatric care, will also be significantly strengthened. The expansion of severe emergency medical centers will be prioritized, and a pilot project for patient transport will be rolled out nationwide in September to prevent emergency room overcrowding. Additionally, resources will be concentrated on trauma centers, and the deployment of medical helicopters will be enhanced.
For mothers and children, the government plans to expand severe maternal and child medical centers, implement a maternal registration system starting in vulnerable areas, and establish more children's hospitals and a pediatric family doctor system.
A notable aspect of the plan is the establishment of a groundbreaking 'medical accident safety net' and fee reform. The government will introduce medical accident liability insurance, providing compensation of up to 1.8 billion won in essential medical areas such as emergency, maternity, and pediatrics.
Moreover, the government plans to significantly increase the national compensation for unavoidable medical accidents from the current 30 million won to a maximum of 300 million won, and to allow leniency in sentencing and restrictions on prosecution for high-risk essential medical practices that do not involve gross negligence. An annual investment of 3.6 trillion won from health insurance finances will also lead to substantial increases in low compensation fees for severe and essential medical fields.
The government is also laying the groundwork for innovation in the public healthcare system and securing medical personnel. The National Central Medical Center will be developed to the level of a top-tier general hospital, and a national medical school will train about 100 public health professionals each year.
In the short term, the government will relax regulations on on-call duties and expand the 'contract-based regional essential doctor system,' while in the long term, it plans to promote a 'regional doctor system' and establish medical schools in areas without them to ensure a stable supply of medical personnel.
The government's responsibility for essential medical services, including emergency, trauma, maternity, and pediatric care, will also be significantly strengthened. The expansion of severe emergency medical centers will be prioritized, and a pilot project for patient transport will be rolled out nationwide in September to prevent emergency room overcrowding. Additionally, resources will be concentrated on trauma centers, and the deployment of medical helicopters will be enhanced.
For mothers and children, the government plans to expand severe maternal and child medical centers, implement a maternal registration system starting in vulnerable areas, and establish more children's hospitals and a pediatric family doctor system.
A notable aspect of the plan is the establishment of a groundbreaking 'medical accident safety net' and fee reform. The government will introduce medical accident liability insurance, providing compensation of up to 1.8 billion won in essential medical areas such as emergency, maternity, and pediatrics.
Moreover, the government plans to significantly increase the national compensation for unavoidable medical accidents from the current 30 million won to a maximum of 300 million won, and to allow leniency in sentencing and restrictions on prosecution for high-risk essential medical practices that do not involve gross negligence. An annual investment of 3.6 trillion won from health insurance finances will also lead to substantial increases in low compensation fees for severe and essential medical fields.
The government is also laying the groundwork for innovation in the public healthcare system and securing medical personnel. The National Central Medical Center will be developed to the level of a top-tier general hospital, and a national medical school will train about 100 public health professionals each year.
In the short term, the government will relax regulations on on-call duties and expand the 'contract-based regional essential doctor system,' while in the long term, it plans to promote a 'regional doctor system' and establish medical schools in areas without them to ensure a stable supply of medical personnel.
Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong stated, "This government will definitely resolve the issues of regional and essential medical care," emphasizing the commitment to revitalizing regional healthcare to save lives and to lead growth centered on the '5 major and 3 special' framework.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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