[Reporter’s Notebook] Urgent Need for Solutions to Medical Polarization

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] In Incheon, a city with a population of 3 million, there are only three tertiary general hospitals. Among them, Gachon University Gil Medical Center has suspended inpatient care due to a shortage of pediatric residents. Bundang CHA Hospital recently sent a message to related organizations that inpatient care may be difficult due to the lack of residents. Even Severance Hospital, one of Seoul's "Big 5" hospitals, did not receive a single application for its 11 pediatric resident positions.

The situation in provincial areas is even more severe. Out of 66 training hospitals nationwide, only 11 received applications for pediatric residency positions. Among provincial hospitals, Jeonbuk National University Hospital and Chungbuk National University Hospital are the only ones with applicants. The continuous warnings from the medical community about the collapse of pediatric care have ultimately become a reality.

The pediatric residency application rate has sharply declined since it first fell short at 78.5% in the 2020 recruitment, dropping to 37.3% in 2021, 27.5% in 2022, and reaching an all-time low of 16.4% in the 2023 recruitment. This is incomparable even to traditionally less favored departments such as cardiothoracic surgery (54.4%) and general surgery (65.5%). Compared to popular departments, the situation is even more serious. In this recruitment, the ophthalmology application rate exceeded 170%.

Another phenomenon revealing medical polarization is the concentration of the medical system in the metropolitan area. Currently, the construction of 10 branch hospitals of large hospitals such as Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Ajou University Hospital is underway in the metropolitan area. Additionally, with Seoul's floor area ratio relaxation measures, about 10 large hospitals including Samsung Medical Center and Ewha Mokdong Hospital are planning expansions.

The bigger problem is that no suitable solution is in sight. Although short-term incentives such as fee increases are being discussed, it is questionable whether the hearts of residents and hospitals can be fundamentally changed. For now, it is urgent for the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the medical community to work together to develop mid- to long-term plans to revive essential medical services and resolve medical polarization.

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