Healthcare Groups Align To Secure Beds For Covid
Japanese healthcare professionals plan to discuss how to secure hospital beds to cope with a surge in coronavirus patients.
The Japan Medical Association, All Japan Hospital Association, and two other organizations plan to hold the first meeting of a new task force this week.
They jointly set up the panel as medical institutions across the country are struggling with a surge in cases.
Last week, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide met the heads of the medical groups. Suga offered government assistance for medical institutions, and asked for their cooperation in securing additional hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.
Observers say private hospitals have accepted fewer coronavirus patients than their public counterparts as private facilities are smaller in size, and have a limited number of staff.
Japan Medical Association President Nakagawa Toshio has suggested that larger hospitals can set aside more beds for people testing positive for the coronavirus if smaller institutions provide more regular medical services.
The four organizations are expected to discuss ways to strengthen their alliance, and how each of them can contribute to their communities.