The government will provide a total of 100 billion won in long-term, low-interest policy funds to emergency medical institutions outside the greater Seoul area that are struggling with management difficulties. The aim is to maintain the regional emergency medical system by allowing the funds to be used not only for improving emergency room facilities but also for medical staff payroll and repayment of existing loans.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 2nd that it will provide policy loan support totaling 100 billion won to 94 emergency medical institutions located outside the greater Seoul area and in emergency care shortage areas.
This support was prepared this year on a temporary basis to ease the management burden on regional medical institutions that are having difficulty operating emergency rooms.
Those eligible are regional emergency medical centers outside the greater Seoul area, local emergency medical centers, and local emergency medical institutions in emergency care shortage areas. An emergency care shortage area refers to any of the 98 cities, counties and districts nationwide where 30% or more of residents would have difficulty reaching a local emergency medical center within 30 minutes or a regional emergency medical center within one hour.
The loan size is up to 4 billion won for regional emergency medical centers, up to 2 billion won for local emergency medical centers, and up to 1 billion won for local emergency medical institutions.
The interest rate is a fixed 2% per year, and a 1% annual rate applies to medical institutions in emergency care shortage areas. The repayment terms are a 5-year grace period followed by 10 years of installment repayment.
The funds can be used not only for improving emergency room facilities and replacing medical equipment but also for medical staff payroll, operating expenses, and repayment of existing loans from financial institutions.
The ministry took applications in June–July and finalized the support targets after review. It will provide 18.2 billion won to 9 regional emergency medical centers, 44.9 billion won to 44 local emergency medical centers, and 36.9 billion won to 41 local emergency medical institutions, respectively.
Medical institutions selected for support will receive funds starting in August after undergoing loan screening at KB Kookmin Bank branches, which handle the loans.