South Korea COVID-19 crisis escalates as hospitals are overwhelmed and Seoul plans to set up temporary field hospitals

COVID-19 News: South Korea is facing a severe healthcare crisis as a resurgence of COVID-19 cases collides with ongoing medical disputes, leaving hospitals overwhelmed and emergency rooms near paralysis. As the country grapples with a rising number of infections, compounded by a potential Mpox outbreak, the government is being forced to take drastic measures to alleviate pressure on its healthcare system.


South Korea COVID-19 crisis escalates as hospitals are overwhelmed and Seoul
plans to temporary field hospitals
 
The Surge in COVID-19 Cases and Its Impact on Hospitals
Since late June 2024, South Korea has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, with the situation reaching a critical point by mid-August. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported a staggering 56.2% increase in COVID-19 inpatients within just one week, totaling 1,357 cases. This sixfold rise in just four weeks has primarily affected the elderly, with those aged 65 and older accounting for over 65% of all hospitalizations.
 
The surge has led to a phenomenon dubbed "ER hopping," where patients are transferred between hospitals due to the lack of available beds and overwhelmed staff. Data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed that between March and July, 273 out of 5,201 transfer requests failed to find a receiving hospital, underscoring the severe strain on the healthcare system.
 
Government Measures and Criticism
In response to the escalating crisis, the South Korean government has announced several measures aimed at mitigating the burden on emergency rooms. These include re-mobilizing previously designated COVID-19 hub hospitals or temporary field hospitals as "partner hospitals" and establishing night and weekend fever clinics at public hospitals. The government is also considering increasing out-of-pocket expenses for non-emergency patients visiting ERs to discourage unnecessary visits.
 
However, these measures have been met with skepticism and criticism from medical professionals. Many argue that the government's approach is unrealistic, given the already overwhelmed state of emergency room staff. Lee Kyung-won, a public relations director at the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine, described the situation as "virtually paralyzed," with medical personnel themselves falling ill to COVID-19.
 
Adding to the healthcare strain is the ongoing medical dispute that has persisted for seven months, leading to a significant reduction in available medical staff. The Ministry of Health and Welfare acknowledged the difficulty in maintaining emergency room services due to accumulated fatigue among medical professionals and the departure of approximately 500 trainee doctors.
 
The Looming Threat of Mpox
While the immediate focus is on managing the COVID-19 surge, concerns are also growing over the potential spread of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). Although the risk of domestic transmission is currently low, experts warn that the new variant spreading in Africa shows increased transmissibility and mortality rates compared to la st year’s outbreak.
 
The South Korean government has taken steps to prepare for a potential mpox outbreak by securing additional beds in public hospitals and ensuring the availability of necessary medical infrastructure. However, the focus remains on managing the current COVID-19 crisis, with efforts to reorganize the emergency medical delivery system and disperse patients to prevent further overload.
 
Budget Cuts and Unpreparedness
One of the major criticisms leveled against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is its failure to adequately prepare for the renewed wave of COVID-19 infections. The KDCA's budget for COVID-19 medications has been slashed by more than half compared to the previous year, leaving the healthcare system ill-equipped to handle the current surge. The budget for general infectious disease crisis management has also been reduced significantly.
 
This lack of preparedness has led to a severe shortage of essential medications, such as Paxlovid and Lagevrio, creating a sense of emergency on the front lines of healthcare. Many public health centers and pharmacies have reported running out of medicine, with patients being turned away due to the lack of available treatments.
 
In response to the medication shortage, the government has recently allocated a preliminary budget of 326.8 billion won (approximately $134.8 million) to purchase additional supplies. The KDCA has assured that sufficient quantities will be distributed to pharmacies nationwide by next week. However, this move has been criticized as too little, too late, with experts arguing that the government should have anticipated the resurgence and taken proactive measures earlier.
 
The Strain on Public Hospitals and Delayed Reforms
Public hospitals, which have borne the brunt of the pandemic, are now facing additional challenges due to the government's delayed response and lack of support. Early in the pandemic, provincial medical centers opened their general beds to COVID-19 patients, resulting in significant financial losses and a decline in regular patient care. Despite promises of state support to cover these losses, the reality has been different, with many hospitals struggling to stay afloat.
 
The situation has been further exacerbated by the postponement of crucial healthcare reforms. Plans for building new public hospitals have been shelved, and the nationwide introduction of an illness allowance, which would provide income support for those unable to work due to illness, has been deferred until 2027. These delays have left many healthcare professionals and patients frustrated, with concerns that the country is unprepared for future health crises.
 
Numerous local COVID-19 News coverages in South Korea are detailing the worsening COVID-19 crisis in the country.
 
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2024/08/602_380831.html
 
https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=24900
 
https://koreabizwire.com/south-korean-hospitals-overwhelmed-as-covid-19-surges-amid-ongoing-medical-dispute/289886
 
https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1154518.html
 
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-08-19/business/economy/Health-authorities-recommend-return-to-mask-wearing-amid-Covid19-resurgence/2115878

The Need for Renewed Focus on Public Health
As South Korea continues to battle the ongoing COVID-19 surge, experts are calling for a renewed focus on public health and the establishment of a robust healthcare system capable of withstanding future pandemics. The current crisis has highlighted the need for comprehensive healthcare reform, including the expansion of public hospitals, increased support for medical staff, and the introduction of measures to ensure that essential medications are readily available.
 
The government has acknowledged the structural problems within the healthcare system, citing the long-standing delays in healthcare reform as a major contributing factor to the current crisis. While the administration has pledged to implement necessary reforms, the timeline for these changes remains uncertain, leaving the country vulnerable to ongoing and future health emergencies.
 
Conclusion
South Korea's healthcare system is currently facing one of its most significant challenges in recent history, with the resurgence of COVID-19 exposing deep-rooted issues that have long been overlooked. As hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of patients and the government scrambles to implement emergency measures, the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country's healthcare infrastructure has never been more urgent.
 
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/korea-seeking-covid-19-treatments-for-260000-as-covid-19-hospitalizations-hits-1357-and-pediatric-cases-rises
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/california-s-covid-19-positivity-rates-hits-14-7-percent-while-wastewater-viral-loads-are-at-alarming-record-levels
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/u-s-medical-news-covid-19-hospitalizations-surge-in-maryland-as-cdc-reports-very-high-virus-levels