Jeong Tae-ok "Government does not give a single won to hospitals but pulls out supplementary budget... Desk administration"

"Sent 6 Billion Won, but Hospitals Can't Even Pay Doctors' Salaries"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Wondara and Jeon Jinyoung] Jeong Tae-ok, a member of the Future United Party, criticized that the government’s support budget is not reaching the field response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. He also pointed out that the government’s supplementary budget proposal is a "budget for economic stimulus."

At the first meeting of the National Assembly COVID-19 Special Committee held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 2nd, Rep. Jeong said, "There is a reserve fund of 3 trillion won and a special grant of about 1 trillion won, so why isn’t it being used? Only 6 billion won has been allocated," and criticized, "Then why talk about a supplementary budget?"

Rep. Jeong, who is from Daegu, said, "I will share some stories from the field," pointing out that hospitals are currently unable to operate properly due to budget shortages.

He criticized, "The government is not giving a single won to Kyungpook National University Hospital, whose income has dropped to about 60% of normal, and only talks about supplementary budgets," and asked, "Where are the special grants and reserve funds being spent?"

He also said, "The reason Gyeongsang Hospital is unable to operate the remaining 700 beds is because budget and medical personnel support are not being provided," adding, "The government has experience cutting budgets for various administrative reasons during SARS and MERS, so they are hesitant to operate hastily."

He continued, "Dongsan Hospital’s income has dropped by more than 50%, so it is unable to pay the wages of existing doctors and nurses," and criticized, "The government’s talk about preparing new facilities is out of touch with reality."

He added, "More than 1,600 confirmed patients have not been admitted to hospitals," and said, "Because the government guidelines prohibit disclosing the residences of confirmed patients, no one knows who the confirmed patients are, and everyone is keeping quiet."

Rep. Jeong said, "This supplementary budget is for general economic stimulus, not for Daegu and Gyeongbuk," and urged, "Invoke emergency powers to deploy medical personnel, equipment, budget, and facilities."

He also said, "Concentrate national capabilities on Daegu and Gyeongbuk," and "Prepare special measures to save Daegu and Gyeongbuk," and requested, "Order the government and local governments to directly support merchants who have closed their businesses."

Regarding the mask supply measures personally overseen by President Moon Jae-in, he criticized, "They say two masks per person will be provided, but for households of three to four people with children, this is desk-bound administration."

Rep. Jeong also expressed despair about the special committee meeting that day, saying, "Seeing only idle greetings at this critical time makes me feel hopeless," and added, "I think it was held to obstruct COVID-19 measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.