Friday 04 June - DAILY NEWS SUMMARY
Pretoria News (www.pretorianews.co.za)
Page 1 – Under-fire Mkhize facing criminal charges Page 4 – City has no money to repair cameras
Page 6 – China, Africa bulding a global community of health for all The Star (www.iol.co.za)
Page 1 – Gauteng Water Crisis (6.2)
Business Day (www.businesslive.co.za)
Western Cape vaccine rate set to peak as supply crunch bites Citizen (www.citizen.co.za)
Page 1 – Praise, honour for firefighters Page 2 – Net tightens on Guptas
연합뉴스 (www.yonhapnews.co.kr)
아프리카서도 첫 한국 원격의료 도움…전세계 100명 이상 혜택
Under-fire Mkhize facing criminal charges
DA MP Siviwe Gwarube opened the case against health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize at the Cape Town Police Station yesterday
Pretoria News
4 Jun 2021
ZINTLE MAHLATI
JACQUES NAUDE African News Agency(ANA
)A SECURITY camera being maintained in the Pretoria CBD.
EMBATTLED Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who is under pressure to resign over his alleged involvement in the awarding of a R150 million contract to his associates, is facing unrelated criminal charges by the DA and Public Protector advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
DA MP Siviwe Gwarube opened a case against Mkhize at the Cape Town Police Station yesterday, saying that police had to probe the mounting evidence against the former ANC treasurer-general regarding the controversial Digital Vibes contract.
She said: “The president failed yesterday by not taking any form of leadership by suspending Dr Mkhize pending the conclusion of the SIU (Special Investigating Unit) investigation.”
The R150 million communications contract was irregularly awarded, an internal investigation by the Health Department has found.
Digital Vibes is reportedly run by Mkhize's associates. Media reports claimed that the company had funded renovations at a house that belonged to Mkhize's family’s trust fund.
The company had also allegedly purchased a vehicle for Mkhize’s son, Dedani. These incidents allegedly took place last year. Mkhize has publicly denied benefiting from the contract, and has refused to step aside.
Gwarube said the DA believed the awarding of the contract to Digital Vibes might have contravened the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
The party also laid a charge against the Health Department’s director-general, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, for a possible contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. Gwarube said police had confirmed that the case would be investigated by a special arm of the SAPS in the Western Cape.
In addition, Mkhize faces more legal trouble after Mkhwebane's office confirmed that a contempt of court case would be opened against him for ignoring subpoenas.
The case would be opened today, the public protector’s spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said.
Mkhize was subpoenaed to give evidence regarding an investigation into his department's alleged failure to implement recommendations of a 2017 Clinical Associate National Task Team report.
The Public Protector’s office said a subpoena notice was sent to Mkhize on February 4, 2021, for him to appear before Mkhwebane. Other notices were issued on March 18, 2021, April 21, 2021, and May 2021.
Mkhwebane's office said with each notice, the Department of Health said Mkhize was unavailable.
The public protector had the legislative powers to summon persons to give evidence or produce documentation, the office said. “It is critical for state functionaries to understand that compliance with our investigations is not optional,” the office said.
Mkhize's office did not respond to requests for comment sent to his office yesterday morning.
The minister is expected to appear before Parliament's health committee this morning, and will face tough questions on the Digital Vibes matter.
A SIU probe of Mkhize was under way and was expected to be concluded by the end of this month, the head of the unit, Andy Mothibi, told Parliament on Wednesday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has come under pressure to suspend Mkhize, said he was awaiting the conclusion of the SIU probe before taking action.
“What is good, as I said yesterday (Wednesday), is that the minister is co-operating fully, and a number of things keep surfacing – surfacing about his son, alleged monies that have been paid, and I would like to enable the investigation to proceed,” Ramaphosa said.
City has no money to repair cameras
Pretoria News
4 Jun 2021
JAMES MAHLOKWANE [email protected]
THE CITY of Tshwane's current financial difficulties make it impossible to repair vandalised CCTV cameras in the metro, municipal chief of staff Jordan Griffiths has said.
Griffiths said plans to repair the CCTV system by last year could not be fulfilled. The DA-led administration in the metro has blamed this on the now-departed administrators, who it claimed left a R4 billion deficit.
Police spokesperson Captain
Augustinah Selepe said Pretoria was currently experiencing numerous thefts out of motor vehicles.
“The cameras used to help because we could see the faces of criminals and approach media houses with their photos and help to identify them,” Selepe said.
“They were also helpful for speedy reaction because they were an important tool for surveillance.
"We have noticed that these criminals steal everything from laptops to bags and anything else they can sell for cash.
“We also have cases of theft involving motor vehicles whereby criminals steal the lights, mirrors and mirror covers of vehicles parked where there is no security. They targeted MercedesBenz and Volkswagen.”
She said the police were also picking up concerning cases of smash-andgrab incidents, and sometimes at the same spot like at the Fountain Valley circle.
However, Griffith said the current constraints on the fiscus in the City meant that the cameras the City would love to get working could not be repaired at this particular point in time. He said, however, the Tshwane metro police Department and stakeholders in the CBD were due to launch a satellite station in the next few months to help combat crimes there.
The City was working with businesses in Pretoria to strengthen relations and efforts to combat criminal behaviour to ensure that the metro was safe for all its residents and guests.
Said Griffiths: “We are also looking to do more visible policing in the city as part of complementing all the other efforts to deal with crime in the area.”
Selepe also warned motorists who lied about being victims of smash-andgrab crime.
“We want our people to know that those investigations will expose them and they will be charged with perjury,” Selepe said.
“You cannot park under the tree and when robbed claim you were driving around Pretoria and someone broke into your car.
“Resources are being spent for no reason, and we urge our people to be honest when dealing with the police," she said.
China, Africa building a global community of health for all
Beijing’s vision is effective in addressing the challenges of the coronavirus
Pretoria News
4 Jun 2021
CHEN XIAODONG Chen is the Chinese Ambassador) to South Africa
COVID-19 has been around for more than a year, but the situation is still complicated and severe. The international community is looking forward to more co-operation against the virus. When President Xi Jinping was invited to attend the Global Health Summit via video link, he put forward a fivepoint proposal to support international co-operation against Covid- 19, namely:
● To put people and their lives first.
● To follow science-based policies and ensure a co-ordinated and systemic response.
● To stick together and promote solidarity and co-operation.
● To uphold fairness and equity when striving to close the immunisation gap.
● And to address both the symptoms and root causes when improving the governance system.
President Xi Jinping also announced China’s five major measures for global solidarity against Covid-19:
● China will provide an additional $3 billion (R41bn) in international aid over the next three years to support the Covid-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries.
● Having already supplied 300 million doses of vaccines to the world, China will provide still more vaccines to the best of its ability.
● China supports its vaccine companies in transferring technologies to other developing countries and carrying out joint production with them.
● Having announced support for waiving intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines, China also supports the World Trade Organization and other international institutions in making an early decision on waiving intellectual property rights on new Covid-19 vaccines.
● China proposes setting up an international forum on vaccine co-operation for vaccine- developing and producing countries, companies and other stakeholders to explore ways of promoting fair and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.
As China shares with the world its experience in fighting Covid-19, shoulders the responsibilities of a major country and practices real multilateralism, these are our latest major moves for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China’s experience is useful for the global fight against Covid-19. The Chinese president fully shared China's experience in fighting the virus at the summit. He stressed the need to put people’s lives and health first, truly respect the value and dignity of every human life, advocate the spirit of science, adopt a science-based approach, deliver a systemic response to co-ordinate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, balance targeted routine Covid-19 protocols and emergency measures, ensure both epidemic control and socio-
economic development. These experiences and recommendations have proved effective by China’s response and are in line with the needs of various countries fighting the virus.
China’s vision is effective in addressing the global challenges of the virus. To address the new challenges posed by the rebound and spread of the virus, the president once again pointed out that it is important for us to understand that we are in the same boat and we will rise and fall together; that we must champion the vision of building a global community of health for all; that we have to tide over this trying time through solidarity and co-operation, and firmly reject any attempt to politicise, label or stigmatise the virus. Political manipulation would not serve Covid-19 response on the domestic front. It would only disrupt international co-operation against the virus and bring greater harm to people around the world.
International co-operation against Covid-19 has proved that to build a global community of health reflects the universal aspirations of all peoples. It is in line with the trend of history and is the right way for mankind to address common challenges and build a better world.
China’s plan promotes sound global health governance. This global pandemic that caught all by surprise is a “big test” that highlights the shortfalls and loopholes in the global health governance system. It is urgent to strengthen capacity building in global public health governance.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that a public health emergency like Covid-19 will not be the last one and its response always calls for global action, global response and global
cooperation. It is important that parties uphold multilateralism, strengthen and leverage the role of the UN and the WHO and improve the global disease prevention and control system to better prevent and respond to future pandemics.
It is important to uphold the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, fully heed the views of developing countries, and better reflect their legitimate concerns. It is also important to enhance the capacity of monitoring, early-warning and emergency response, the capacity of treatment of major pandemics, of contingency reserve and logistics, of fighting disinformation, and of providing support to developing countries.
China’s honouring of promises benefits the international community. China has fully delivered the US$2bn of aid pledged by Jinping during the 73rd World Health Assembly.
China is fully implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and has so far put off debt repayment exceeding $1.3bn, the highest deferral amount among G20 members. China has honoured its commitment of making vaccines a public good by providing free vaccines to more than 80 developing countries in urgent need and exporting vaccines to 43 countries. We have supplied more vaccines to the world than any other country on earth.
China and Africa fighting Covid19 together sets a great example for world co-operation.
Since Covid-19 started, Jinping has been working with President Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders to address the pandemic. This is a true testament to the special bond between China and Africa which reach out to each other during trying times. China has sent medical groups to 15 African countries and trained more than 20 000 African health workers. Chinese hospitals have been paired up with 43 hospitals in 38 African countries.
The construction of the African CDC headquarters was started ahead of schedule. We have supplied, and still continuing, much-needed Covid19 vaccines to more than 30 African countries in need. We also provided many batches of emergency response supplies to Africa.
Two of China’s Covid-19 vaccines, from both Sinopharm and Sinovac have been validated by WHO for emergency use. Sinopharm is actively working on supplying their vaccines to Covax. Sinovac is also in the final stages of review and registration by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. We hope that the Chinese vaccine will be put to use in South Africa as soon as possible to benefit the South African people.
There is a Chinese saying: True gold fears no fire. Likewise, true friendship can stand the test of great difficulties. China and Africa enjoy time-honoured friendship. Emerging from the test of Covid-19, we have strengthened the bound of brotherhood between us more valuable than gold. China will firmly join hands with African countries to fight the pandemic, jointly promote post-Covid economic recovery and steady growth and work together with all to build a global community of health for all.
GAUTENG WATER CRISIS
The Star Late Edition
3 Jun 2021
CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA [email protected] @Chulu_M
ITUMELENG ENGLISH African News Agency (ANA)GIFT of the Givers sent its drilling team to the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Coronationville to install boreholes. |
GAUTENG residents and hospitals are experiencing a water crisis as entities, Rand Water and Johannesburg Water, say they are working to resolve shortages.
Several areas in Gauteng currently have water shortages which are engulfing areas in Joburg.
In particular, Fairland, Northcliff, Hursthill, Crosby, Coronationville, Montclare, Sophiatown and Brixton have been affected.
Brixton resident and university student Khanyisa Milisi, who has had water shortages for about five days, told The Star the lack of water has been exceptionally inconvenient as a student and a woman. “As a student in my final year that’s doing a technical subject such as TV production, I have to go onto campus almost everyday. Also as a female, there are other things I need water for …” she said.
The water shortages have also affected health-care facilities such as the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Coronationville and Helen Joseph Hospital in Auckland Park.
The Gauteng Department of Health was forced to bring in water tankers to ensure patients have access to water.
Gift of the Givers also responded to the plight of patients and staff at the Rahima Moosa by availing its drilling team for boreholes. The non-governmental organisation started the drilling process yesterday morning.
Rand Water and Johannesburg Water in a statement yesterday explained the events that led to the crisis. They said that on May 18, Rand Water undertook a pre-isolation shutdown at the Eikenhof Pumping Station to prepare for the replacement of an isolation valve. During the shutdown, a power failure occurred at the Vereeniging Water Treatment Plant which affected supply to the Hursthill system.
“The Hursthill system has, following the shutdown and restoration, been battling to recover to acceptable reservoir levels. The system supplies high-lying areas that have historically been vulnerable to fluctuating bulk water supply during high-demand seasons,” they said.
The utilities said that their technical teams were on the ground investigating other options to optimise the integrated supply system, however, power failures at the Eikenhof substation last week further affected the system.
“Both entities are currently looking at short- to medium-term interventions in order to address the current challenges. It must be noted that Rand Water and Johannesburg Water have already formulated long-term solutions to this issue,” they said.
The entities added they remain committed to resolving the water challenges.
Gauteng Health Department’s acting deputy director general for hospital services, Dr Freddy Kgongwana, speaking on SAfm yesterday morning, explained how the water challenges at the various facilities impact on service provision and discussed the measures put in place to alleviate the pressure.
“We’ve been having tankers and individual groups like Gift of the Givers and individuals in hospitals who have come forward to help. At the moment, we are in a better space than we were last week and anticipate that as the reservoirs completely fill up, we will be back to normal,” Kgongwana said.
He emphasised that the supply of water to public healthcare facilities has been restored, however not fully and the department does not know how long it will take for the reservoirs to fill up.
The water crisis experienced at the Gauteng health-care facilities comes at a time when the province grapples with a third wave of Covid-19 infections where water is essential. The country is also undergoing Stage 2 load shedding.
At the same time, patients at Gauteng and North West hospitals continue to suffer from overcrowding, lack of medication, poor treatment by hospital staff and security issues. |
Western Cape vaccine rate set to peak as supply crunch bites
The hold on Johnson & Johnson shots is frustrating the province’s plans to ramp up inoculations 0 3 J U N E 2 0 2 1 - 2 0 : 1 4 TA M A R K A H N
Picture: 123RF/INSTAPHOTOS
SA’s acute shortage of coronavirus vaccines is forcing the Western Cape health department to put the brakes on its plans to expand its immunisation programme.
It appears to be the first province to warn that it has hit a plateau in its vaccination rate, triggered by the worldwide delay in the supply of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) shots, which were intended to be the workhorse of SA’s mass inoculation drive.
“We have the sites, we have the vaccinators, we have the distribution network. But we cannot do more unless we have more supplies coming in. The big constraint is due to the non-release of the J&J doses,” Western Cape head of health Keith Cloete said on
Thursday.
The national government’s mass vaccination programme was dealt an unexpected blow in May after the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) put a hold on the release of
millions of doses of J&J’s vaccine due to problems it identified at a US Emergent BioSolutions factory that makes key ingredients for the shots. The hold on the J&J vaccines means the government has only a limited supply of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines on hand.
The government had expected the FDA to finalise its position on J&J’s vaccine by Friday, but that decision may be slightly delayed because the authority rescheduled its planned inspection of Emergent from Wednesday to Friday, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director John Nkengasong. A decision from the FDA was imminent, but might only come early next week, he told reporters in a virtual
briefing.
As of June 1, 1.3-million doses of Pfizer’s double-shot vaccine had been distributed to the provinces, and another 636,000 doses was awaiting clearance by the national control laboratory in Bloemfontein, according to a presentation by health director-general Sandile Buthelezi to the Black Business Council on Wednesday. Two more weekly deliveries of 636,000 Pfizer shots are expected in late June, rising to a shipment of 1.27-million doses by June 21. SA is currently offering vaccines to health-care workers and people over the age of 60.
The Western Cape has steadily increased the number of vaccines it administers at public sector sites since the national vaccination programme began on May 17, but has now reached the point where it cannot expand further without a significant increase in
supplies, said Cloete. The province expected to administer 60,000 Pfizer doses this week, but would increase to only 70,000 next week, far short of its original target of 120,000, he said.
The province has so far received 124,020 Pfizer doses, and by Friday expected to have administered at least 80% of these supplies at public sector sites. The remainder, combined with the next tranche of 72,540 Pfizer vaccines slated for delivery on Friday, would not be sufficient to reach the 120,000 target, he said.
Cloete said he did not know how many doses had been provided to private sector sites in the province, as their stocks were allocated by the national health department.
The Western Cape health department currently operates 204 vaccination sites, and plans to open mass vaccination sites in Cape Town once vaccine supplies ramp up, he said.
These mega-sites will be in the city centre, the Cape Flats, and the northern suburbs.
Praise, honour for firefighters
18 HEROES, 10 EMERGENCY VEHICLES SHINE
The Citizen (Gauteng)
4 Jun 2021
Marizka Coetzer – [email protected]
Picture: Jacques NellesPROUD MOMENT. Onica Monchonyane, leading firefighter and driver of Engine 21 that went to Johannesburg’s Bank of Lisbon fire in 2018. She is the only woman firefighter to receive a medal for bravery from Tshwane mayor Randall Williams in Pretoria yesterday.
Bravery medals for taking part in Joburg’s Bank of Lisbon operation.
With their chins up and chests out, 17 firefighters from around the City of Tshwane were yesterday awarded medals for bravery at the Rietondale Sports Grounds in Pretoria.
Tshwane’s Emergency Service Management (EMS) not only celebrated their 18 heroes – one medal was awarded in absentia – but also showcased 10 new emergency fleet vehicles.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams, with the MMC for community safety, Karen Meyer had the honour of bestowing bravery medals to the 17 firefighters who were part of the
Johannesburg’s Bank of Lisbon operation in 2018.
“They are the bravest for running towards danger to put out a fire and that deserves praise and respect,” Williams said.
Guests then received a tour of the new fleet of emergency vehicles, where they had an opportunity to get a closer look at the high-tech trucks with all the bells and whistles.
“This is the most powerful tool of the EMS of the city. If they would go to war or respond to an incident, this vehicle will empower them,” said EMS acting chief Moshema Mosia.
The 10 new emergency fleet vehicles included an industrial pumper with a water tank of 1 893 litres and a foam tank of 2 000 litres, which will be at Silverton fire station.
A foam tanker with a capacity of 2 000 litres of water and 2 000 litres of foam will be at the Rosslyn fire station to assist with the heavy industry area.
Wonderboom Airport received an airport rescue firefighting vehicle with a water capacity of 6 000 litres.
An armoured fire engine was also one of the new additions to the fleet, which is a one-of-a- kind fire engine that can be used during public unrest situations.
Onica Monchonyane, who has been a firefighter for 12 years, was the only female firefighter to receive a medal on the day.
“It is a struggle as a woman, especially in a field dominated by men, but I pulled up my socks and made my mark,” Monchonyane said.
Net tightens on Guptas
RED NOTICE: INTERPOL TO BE ASKED TO ISSUE WARRANTS OF ARREST
The Citizen (Gauteng)
4 Jun 2021
– [email protected] Nica Richards & Molefe Seeletsa
The National Prosecuting Authority has approached Interpol to issue warrants of arrest for the brothers and to issue a ‘Red Notice’, marking them as fugitives at border controls worldwide, which would make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to travel.
Border control officials will be on lookout for brothers; international travel will be difficult.
It is critical that the evidence gathered in this matter is presented to court.
Hermione Cronje
NPA’s investigating directorate head advocate
The global justice net is tightening on the Gupta family, as international police body Interpol will be asked by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to execute warrants of arrest against them.
Interpol will be asked to issue a public Red Notice for Atul Gupta, his wife Chetali, Rajesh Gupta and his wife Arti. Others named by the NPA’s investigating directorate – and for whom warrants of arrest have been issued – are Ankit Jain, former Nulane Investment Bank of Baroda account signatory; Ravindra Nath, director of Wone Management; Ramesh Bhat and Jagdish Parekh, directors of Pragat Investments.
Any Interpol Red Notice means that border control officials will be on the lookout for the fugitives, which means international travel will be difficult, if not impossible.
Interpol, because of multilateral agreements, can also exert pressure on police authorities in a country in which the family may be living, to have them detained.
The Guptas’ whereabouts are not known, although they were living for some time in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In April, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) said Gupta-owned companies registered in the UAE were involved in an intricate global money laundering web.
At least 10 shell companies around the world were used to move money looted from the SA government to accounts in Dubai and India, OCCRP said.
The Interpol warrants would come against the background of tightened global vigilance on corruption and money laundering. The Guptas have already felt that global squeeze.
In 2019, the US government sanctioned three Gupta brothers (Ajay, Atul and Rajesh) and one of their associates (Salim Essa), accusing them of bribery and overpayments on government contracts to fund political contributions and influence the actions of the SA government.
The sanctions were brought in terms of the Magnitsky Act, a law under which the US punishes foreign government officials implicated in corruption or human rights abuses. The Act meant the Guptas were seen as “international financial pariahs”.
The announcement by the NPA came as former Transnet board member Essa, along with Iqbal Sharma and three former senior Free State government officials, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Their appearance was in connection with procurement fraud charges to the tune of R24 million, paid by the Free State agriculture department to Nulane Investment. Investigating
directorate head advocate Hermione Cronje revealed that the directorate has asked Interpol to arrest and extradite the Guptas to stand trial in SA on fraud charges.
“The modus operandi used in this case appears to have been replicated in other government departments and projects.
“It is therefore critical that the evidence gathered in this matter is presented to court and a verdict obtained expeditiously.
“It is for this reason that prosecutors have decided to proceed separately against the accused currently in the country and those abroad,” Cronje said in a statement yesterday.
After monies were paid by the department to Nulane, funds were said to have been diverted to Gupta family-owned company Islandsite Investments.
The R24 million was paid to Nulane to conduct a “feasibility study” for the Mohoma Mobung project because Nulane had “unique skills” to do the work.
But the NPA has uncovered that Nulane had no employees and subcontracted financial consulting firm Deloitte to produce the report.
아프리카서도 첫 한국 원격의료 도움…전세계 100명 이상 혜택
남아공서 주재원 등 2 명 인하대병원 국제진료센터 의료상담…코로나·백신접종 상담도
송고시간 2021-06-04 06:00
원격의료 (PG)
[김민아 제작] 사진합성·일러스트
(요하네스버그=연합뉴스) 김성진 특파원 = 멀리 아프리카의 재외국민 가운데서도 한국 원격의료의 혜택을 본 경우가 처음으로 나왔다.
3 일(현지시간) 남아공 한 주재원과 인하대병원 국제진료센터 관계자 등에 따르면 지난 4 월 남아공에서 2 명의 재외국민이 원격 의료상담을 진행했다.
아프리카에서는 최초로 한국과 원격의료가 이뤄진 셈이다.
주재원 A 씨의 경우 자녀가 희귀질환으로 고통받는 상황에서 항공편으로 귀국해 치료하기가 어려워 인하대병원 국제진료센터의 의료상담을 이용했다.
다른 재외국민 한 명은 피부과 상담을 이용한 것으로 전해졌다.
A 씨는 연합뉴스와 통화에서 "초기에 현지병원에서도 희귀질환 병명을 정확히 짚어내는 데 어려웠는데 한국 의사와 원격 상담이 병명을 제대로 파악하고 약을 쓰는 데 있어 도움을 줬다"라고 말했다.
그러면서 "남아공 현지 의료진도 한국 의료진에 높은 신뢰도를 보여 병증을 역추적하는 데 상담 결과를 잘 참고했다"라면서 "개인적으로도 해외에서 한국 의사와 진료 상담을 하면서 심리적으로 위로와 위안이 됐다"라고 말했다.
원격 의료
[연합뉴스 자료사진]
A 씨의 자녀는 이후 현지 대학병원에서 수술을 잘 받아 현재는 통원 치료 중인 것으로 전해졌다.
재외국민 대상 비대면 진료는 지난해 6 월 산업통상자원부의 '규제완화 샌드박스' 대상에 선정돼 A 씨처럼 재외국민을 대상으로 지난해 9 월부터 사업이
본격화됐다.
지금까지 전세계적으로 100 명 이상의 재외국민이 혜택을 봤으며 가장 많은 대상지는 중국으로 절반에 육박했다. 중동의 경우 5 건 정도 원격 의료가 이뤄졌다.
특히 팬데믹(전염병의 세계적 대유행) 상황에서 신종 코로나바이러스
감염증(코로나 19) 확진을 받은 재외국민이 입원도 못 하고 자가격리를 해야 하는데 어떻게 자신을 관리해야 하는지 상담이 여러 건 이뤄졌다고 한다.
또 최근에는 주재국에서 백신 접종 후 이상 반응이나 부작용 같은 것이 발생한 것 같은데 어떻게 해야 하느냐는 문의도 있었다.
국제진료센터 관계자는 "코로나 관련 상담은 전체의 20% 정도 된다"라고 말했다.
원격의료를 이용하려면 국제진료센터 웹사이트(online.inha.com)에 접속해 회원으로 가입한 후 사전 예약으로 전문의 상담이나 자문을 받게 된다.
의료상담은 내과, 피부과, 정신건강의학과 등이고 의료자문은 그 밖의 다른 진료 과목에 해당한다. 이용료는 의료상담이 6 만 원이고 자문의 경우 10 만∼30 만 원이며 자기공명영상장치(MRI), X-레이 등의 판독 비용은 별도라고 관계자는 설명했다.
팬데믹 이전 해외로 나가는 국민이 매년 약 3 천만 명에 달한 것으로 알려졌지만 현지 보험이 없으면 병원 접근이 배제되거나 언어 문제로 의료서비스 이용에 애로를 겪는 국민들이 많다. 또 아프리카처럼 의료환경이 열악한 국가에선 제대로 된 치료를 받지 못할 수 있다.
해외 원격의료는 내년 9 월까지 우선 2 년 시한으로 진행되는 가운데 코로나 19 등 감염병 대응 차원에서 세계적 흐름에 따라 법 개정 등을 통해 국내에도 맞춤형 원격진료를 도입해야 한다는 목소리가 나오고 있다.
원격의료(CG) [연합뉴스 TV 제공]
