[2022 National Audit] Director of National Medical Center "Difficult to Entrust Management of Public Hospitals" ... Also Complains of Staff Shortages

"Seongnam City Medical Center, Sufficient Opportunities Must Be Given Before Privatization"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Joo Young-soo, director of the National Medical Center, stated regarding the entrusted management of local medical centers by university hospitals, "It is practically difficult for the operator to bear all the burdens while entrusting management," and added, "The issue should be resolved by strengthening the capabilities of local medical centers."

On the 12th, during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee’s audit, when Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-seok asked for his opinion on the entrusted management of local medical centers by university hospitals, Director Joo replied, "If public medical institutions are to be expanded in the future, it is important to first enhance the completeness of medical services at existing public institutions."

Local medical centers are public medical institutions established in medically underserved areas. Due to their public interest role, such as treating many vulnerable patients, they face challenges in generating profits. For this reason, recently, the Seongnam City Council and Seongnam City attempted to revise ordinances to promote the private entrustment of Seongnam Medical Center, but the review of the ordinance was put on hold amid backlash such as 'abandonment of public healthcare' and 'a signal for privatization of public hospitals.'

Director Joo said, "It is a reality that public institutions’ medical capabilities are insufficient to treat critically ill patients," and added, "I believe a substantial scale and a comprehensive medical system capable of treating severe patients are necessary."

When Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Hye-sook asked for his opinion on the privatization of Seongnam Medical Center, he said, "It seems they have not had sufficient opportunities. I think they should be given enough opportunities to fulfill their roles."

He also expressed difficulties in expanding personnel. Director Joo said, "About 20% of physician positions are vacant, it is hard to find people, and doctors prefer large private hospitals where the retirement age is 65 over public hospitals where it is 60," adding, "Unless working conditions improve, recruiting excellent personnel is a very big concern."

Other lawmakers also unanimously emphasized the importance of public healthcare and the need for support. Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hyun-young expressed hope that the pilot project by the National Medical Center and the Korean Medical Association, which matches retired medical professors with local hospitals for reemployment, could become a 'medical coexistence model.' Director Joo said, "If this system is introduced, the shortage of doctors in public hospitals will be greatly resolved," and added, "Since there have been very active requests during recent field surveys targeting public hospitals, I believe it will be an effective system."

Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jeong-ae said, "Public hospitals played a frontline role at the beginning of COVID-19, and private hospitals were properly mobilized only from the end of last year. Currently, private hospitals no longer accept infectious disease patients, and public hospitals are handling them." She continued, "Public hospitals inevitably operate at a loss, and since management is poor, there are attempts to entrust them to the private sector, sell, or close them. However, if another infectious disease outbreak occurs, there will be panic again. Public hospitals must always be prepared to act as a reserve force."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.