Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Minister Shin visited Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital and encouraged staff

He inspected the military emergency treatment system, including emergency rooms

On March 5, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik (left) received a briefing on the operation of the military emergency treatment system from the president of Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital.

As the number of civilian patients visiting military hospitals rose to a total of 139 by noon, March 5, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik visited the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital to inspect the operation of the military emergency treatment system and encourage the military medical staff.

Defense Minister Shin was briefed on the emergency treatment system, such as the operation of the emergency room and the management of inpatients, and collaboration with local hospitals near the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital.

He encouraged the officers by saying, “In the midst of a national medical emergency, public confidence in the military medical service has increased with emergency treatment in military hospitals.” He urged them to make efforts to develop the service, adding, “The military medical service must build up sufficient capability to protect people’s lives and health as well as those of comrades.”

He also said, “It is the basic mission of the military to help and serve people when they need it. I ask you to make utmost efforts to help people in need as if you were saving the lives of comrades in the battlefield.” Lee Guk-jong, president of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, responded, “The military is the part that most needs medical care such as emergency transport and trauma therapy. We will strive to develop a military medical care system in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense and the Korea Armed Forces Medical Command.”

In response to the collective action of the medical community, the Ministry of National Defense has opened the emergency rooms of 12 military hospitals since February 20 based on ministerial measures. As of noon on March 5, The Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital treated 28 citizens, which is the second most after the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.

Minister Shin will also visit Air Force Aerospace Medical Center and Maritime Medical Center to inspect the emergency treatment system of military hospitals.

By Ah-Mi, Cho <joajoa@dema.mil.kr>

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