The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 30th that it has selected 175 general hospitals as institutions for the 'Comprehensive Phase 2 General Hospital Support Project' starting July 1. This project aims to strengthen the capabilities of local general hospitals so that local residents can access emergency and essential medical services in a timely manner, with the government planning to invest 2.1 trillion won over three years, at an annual cost of 700 billion won.
The Ministry of Welfare has selected 164 institutions that meet all the criteria, including △acute care hospital certification, △designation of regional emergency medical institutions, and △more than 350 types of surgeries and procedures that can be performed. In addition, 11 institutions in certain regional areas have been provisionally designated, with criteria to be met within two years.
The ministry plans to strengthen the cooperation system among 24-hour emergency care, upper general hospitals, comprehensive phase 2 general hospitals, and local clinics so that these hospitals can address most medical issues occurring in the region.
The measures will increase the reimbursement rates for intensive care units. Based on the appropriateness evaluation results, the reimbursement rates for intensive care units will be raised by 50% by grade, with 1st and 2nd grades receiving 150,000 won per day, 3rd grade receiving an additional 90,000 won, and 4th grade receiving an additional 30,000 won, totaling an investment of 170 billion won annually. The additional fee for emergency surgeries performed within 24 hours of an emergency room visit (for patients graded KTAS 1-3) will also be increased. Regional, specialized, and trauma centers will receive a 50% increase, while regional emergency medical centers will receive a 150% increase, with a total annual support of 110 billion won. The ministry will provide 200 billion won annually to hospitals to assist with personnel costs based on emergency room operation plans and duty status.
A compensation system for the performance of functional innovation in comprehensive phase 2 general hospitals will also be established. The plan is to evaluate the level of appropriate patient concentration in participating institutions, resolution of local medical issues, and performance in building cooperative medical systems, with differentiated subsidies to be provided based on results; specific evaluation criteria are expected to be released in the second half of this year.
The ministry plans to manage selected institutions through periodic supervision and will select participating hospitals each year to encourage overall quality improvement in regional phase 2 hospitals. Jeong Gyeong-sil, head of the Medical Reform Promotion Team, noted, 'The Comprehensive Phase 2 General Hospital Support Project is a process to establish an appropriate regional medical delivery system following the transition of upper general hospital structures,' and added, 'We will continuously communicate with the field to enhance the system.'