Ulsan Hospital Closure Sparks Urgent Need for Patient Relocation Plan

The urgent closure of Banguidae Hospital in Ulsan, South Korea, following a series of patient deaths, has sparked calls for immediate action to ensure the welfare of its current inpatients. The hospital, which made the emergency decision to close after a patient died by suicide on August 2, has notified the local health center of its intention to cease operations by September 3.

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The most important issue is to prepare measures for where and how to send the patients currently admitted to Banguidae Hospital.

This situation is particularly critical given that Banguidae Hospital houses over 200 patients, a significant portion of whom, 63.8%, have developmental disabilities. The hospital has faced scrutiny from national and local authorities, as well as police investigations, due to the deaths of five inpatients over the past five years, including four with severe intellectual disabilities. The recent suicide, following a patient fall incident in June, prompted the immediate closure decision.

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It is not a simple matter to send more than 200 patients, including those with severe developmental disabilities, elsewhere within a month.

Dr. Lee Jong-guk, former director of Gongju National Hospital, emphasized that the most pressing issue is establishing a plan for the transfer of these patients. He stated that moving over 200 patients, including those with severe developmental disabilities, within a month is a complex challenge. Dr. Lee advocates for the formation of an emergency task force, led by the Ulsan Metropolitan City, to systematically manage the transfer process over a more extended period. This task force should include representatives from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, mental health support centers, medical associations, patient advocacy groups, and the hospital itself.

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It is not a problem that can be solved by closing just Banguidae Hospital or a few other problematic hospitals.

Dr. Lee stressed the need to assess each patient's condition, including their level of dependency and support systems, to facilitate appropriate transfers to suitable mental healthcare facilities. He noted the current scarcity of hospital beds for severely ill patients, making the search for new placements difficult and time-consuming. This situation underscores a systemic problem in the care of individuals with severe developmental disabilities, suggesting that the closure of one hospital is not a singular solution. Dr. Lee called for the government to establish national or public facilities specifically for developmental disability care, equipped with adequate staffing and a human rights-focused environment, arguing that such specialized care should not be left solely to the private sector.

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In this area, the state should take direct responsibility and operate them, rather than leaving it solely to the private sector.