This image is not related to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
This image is not related to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

Chonnam National University Hospital will operate a Ministry of Health and Welfare-designated pediatric emergency medical center starting in November — the first such facility in the region.

For the next three years, the hospital will serve as the hub of the region's essential pediatric medical network, handling everything from initial response for critically ill child emergency patients to intensive care unit admission and urgent surgery and procedures.

The pediatric emergency medical center will operate around the clock, enabling specialist care for critically ill child patients even at night and on holidays.

To ease the concentration of patients at pediatric emergency rooms and narrow the medical gap between regions, the Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city will invest 2.82 billion won ($2.11 million) in related projects.

An additional 2 billion won will support the operation of 12 Dalbit children's hospitals and one public late-night children's hospital to reduce gaps in care for children with minor conditions during nights and holidays.

Another 820 million won will go to three pediatric and adolescent clinics in underserved areas with limited medical access, as part of efforts to reduce regional disparities in healthcare.

The integrated city plans to direct children with mild symptoms to a Dalbit children's hospital or a nearby pediatric clinic first, while those with serious or moderate conditions are referred to the pediatric emergency medical center.


sij@heraldcorp.com