63% of Doctors Willing to Work in Medically Underserved Areas After Retirement... Utilizing 'Retired Doctors' Emerging as an Alternative for Essential Medical Care

Six out of ten active doctors responded that they are willing to work in medically underserved areas with a shortage of healthcare personnel after retirement.

On the morning of the 13th, the Korean Medical Association held a press conference at the association hall in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and announced the results of a survey titled "Career Choices for Doctors After Retirement."

Lee Pil-su, president of the Korean Medical Association (second from the left), is speaking at a press conference held on the 13th at the Korean Medical Association building in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Korean Medical Association]

When asked about their willingness to work in medically underserved areas with a severe shortage of essential medical personnel after retirement, 63.1% answered "yes." Regarding whether they would be willing to take a job opportunity at a public health medical institution after retirement, 77% responded affirmatively, and 67.9% expressed willingness to work at private medical institutions.

Regarding the Korean Medical Association's agreement with the National Medical Center to form a "(Senior) Doctor-Regional Public Medical Institution Matching Project TF," 69.9% viewed it positively (29.3% very positive, 40.6% positive). When asked about the most important factors if they were to work at a public health medical institution after retirement, respondents answered in order of work location (25.2%), appropriate salary (25%), and working hours (15.6%).

Additionally, when asked whether strengthening primary care and public healthcare is possible by utilizing retired doctors without increasing the number of doctors (such as establishing new medical schools), 57.9% answered "possible," 24.3% said "not sure," and 17.8% responded "impossible." Furthermore, when asked if the shortage of essential medical services in the region would be resolved if retired doctors worked at regional public medical institutions, 49.3% predicted that it would be resolved.

Lee Pil-su, president of the Korean Medical Association, stated, "To solve the problem of essential regional medical services, the matching project between senior doctors and regional public hospitals is the most realistic alternative," emphasizing the future activation of the "Senior Doctor Regional Public Medical Institution Matching Project," jointly promoted by the Korean Medical Association, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Medical Center.

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