Photo : KBS
The government plans to direct an annual three-point-three trillion won, or around two-point-five billion U.S. dollars, from the national health insurance towards a trial project to restructure high-level general hospitals starting next month.
At a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Friday, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min pledged to enforce the first-phase health reforms, including restructuring, and to invest 20 trillion won over five years.
The minister said the trial restructuring will involve an overhaul of workforce at top-tier hospitals to center around specialists and physician assistants and concentration on treatment of serious or rare illnesses. Up to 15 percent of beds offered to patients with minor symptoms will be reduced.
The annual injection of three-point-three trillion won will help fund an increase in insurance fees for surgeries involving serious illnesses and intensive care units.
Stating that the government is accelerating the reforms, including the medical school admissions quota hike, to guarantee high-quality health care service to the South Korean people anywhere, anytime, the minister urged the medical community to join such efforts.