Nation gets ready for new flu and Chuseok
Published: 21 Sep. 2009, 04:42
With at least 10 million Koreans expected to travel across the country during the Chuseok holiday, the Health Ministry has devised emergency measures against A(H1N1) flu, including operating all public health centers from Oct. 2 till Oct. 4.
The ministry said yesterday that 454 hospitals with emergency treatment facilities, 253 public health centers and 400 smaller branches of those centers will be open for the three days. Emergency rooms that operate around the clock will have a stock of antiviral medicine so that they can treat patients directly without having to go through pharmacies. Of 454 emergency hospitals, 326 are those that have already been designated by the Health Ministry for new flu treatment. Local public health centers will operate from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. The ministry will also make it mandatory for at least 600 pharmacies to stay open during the nation’s biggest traditional holiday.
“We have decided to run an emergency medical system so that suspected flu patients can receive proper treatment during the holiday when Koreans will move en masse,” said an official with the central influenza countermeasure headquarters under the Health Ministry.
The ministry also plans to install compartments at those emergency rooms to prevent the flu virus from spreading and to add to the workforce devoted to the epidemic.
The Health Ministry will post the list of hospitals and pharmacies linked to new flu treatment on its homepage and the Web pages of other health-related public institutions. Citizens may also call 1339 for emergency medical information. Information about public health agencies can be obtained by calling 129.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
The ministry said yesterday that 454 hospitals with emergency treatment facilities, 253 public health centers and 400 smaller branches of those centers will be open for the three days. Emergency rooms that operate around the clock will have a stock of antiviral medicine so that they can treat patients directly without having to go through pharmacies. Of 454 emergency hospitals, 326 are those that have already been designated by the Health Ministry for new flu treatment. Local public health centers will operate from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. The ministry will also make it mandatory for at least 600 pharmacies to stay open during the nation’s biggest traditional holiday.
“We have decided to run an emergency medical system so that suspected flu patients can receive proper treatment during the holiday when Koreans will move en masse,” said an official with the central influenza countermeasure headquarters under the Health Ministry.
The ministry also plans to install compartments at those emergency rooms to prevent the flu virus from spreading and to add to the workforce devoted to the epidemic.
The Health Ministry will post the list of hospitals and pharmacies linked to new flu treatment on its homepage and the Web pages of other health-related public institutions. Citizens may also call 1339 for emergency medical information. Information about public health agencies can be obtained by calling 129.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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