‘The 88th meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Medical Collective Action’ held

"On February 13, 2025, the Ministry of Health and Welfare issued an update regarding 'The 88th meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Medical Collective Action' held. The meeting discussed emergency care response situations, operation plans for local governments, and ministry's actions. Key points from the update include: * Total hospital inpatient numbers were 95,105 as of February 1st, similar to pre-epidemic levels. * Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions reached 7,485, slightly higher than normal. * Emergency medical services (EMS) maintained 24-hour operations at 410 out of 412 emergency departments nationwide. * The number of patients visiting EMS remained at 76.2% of pre-epidemic levels. The Ministry is progressing with medical reform efforts to overcome the medical crisis. A total of 3,620 general hospital beds have been cut, and 112 ICU beds have been added in high-level hospitals. The government aims to create a sustainable medical ecosystem by restructuring secondary hospitals and establishing a network of emergency and trauma centers. The reform plan includes: * Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and promoting home care. * Enhancing emergency and critical care services. * Improving access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations. The Ministry also plans to revise the medical aid system, strengthen health insurance coverage, and provide additional support for hospitals and medical professionals.