MERS inflicts financial loss to hospitals

MERS put hospitals in financial difficulty

By Lee Kyung-min

Hospitals are suffering major financial losses due to a reduction in the number of patients triggered by the ongoing outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), according to a group of their representatives Tuesday.

People are refusing to visit or are delaying attending hospitals as most MERS infection cases occurred there through close contact with confirmed or suspected patients.

Officials at many general hospitals in Seoul say the number of inpatients and outpatients has dropped by up to 50 percent, causing a daily loss of up to 700 million won ($633,000). The decrease started in the last week of May after the nation’s first MERS case was confirmed, May 20.

In the case of Yonsei University Severance Hospital, the number of outpatients dropped 31 percent, incurring a daily loss of 400 million won. The number of inpatients also decreased 6 percent, incurring a daily loss of 300 million won.

Other university hospitals including Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Korea University Hospital are in a similar situation.

The problem is worse for the hospitals where patients were confirmed.

In the case of Konkuk University Medical Center, the number of daily outpatients decreased from 3,300 to 1,000. The number of operations per day also plunged from 90 a month ago to 20.

A hospital in Gyeonggi Province with a 400-inpatient capacity, has suffered a loss of 2.8 billion won after reporting a confirmed case late last month.

Also affected are small to medium-sized businesses located in and around such medical facilities, such as restaurants, pharmacies and stores.

The government said it is considering providing emergency relief funds of up to 400 billion won in financial support for hospitals that are struggling from a shutdown or a decrease of patients; or business owners who are suffering from sales decreases due to MERS outbreak.

Rep. Won Yoo-chul of the ruling Saenuri Party said there is no way to recover the damages unless the outbreak dies down and people feel safe to visit hospitals, adding government support is crucial in the meantime.

“The country is aware that MERS claimed many lives and rendered others in compromised conditions. We will consider granting the emergency relief on the affected businesses as soon as possible,” he said.