Health ministry announces hospital oversight shift after Cabinet approval

The health ministry said Tuesday that the Cabinet approved decree amendments transferring responsibility for national university hospitals and national university dental hospitals from the education ministry to the health ministry.

The ministry said the amendments follow revisions to the two hospital-installation laws, promulgated Feb. 19, that will take effect Aug. 20. It described the changes as part of an effort to strengthen the hospitals' capabilities systematically and professionally.

The health minister will receive hospital operating documents, including business plans and funding requests, along with material related to recommendations for hospital heads. Hospitals will be able to establish additional lower-level units through their bylaws.

The government said the transfer will strengthen links between regional national university hospitals and healthcare policy, supporting its agenda to narrow regional disparities, expand essential medical care and reinforce public healthcare. It said it will support hospitals in maintaining their teaching-hospital role for medical schools while serving as core hubs for regional, essential and public healthcare and leading efforts to build regionally complete healthcare systems.