Jeong Gi-seok: "Increasing the Number of Doctors Has Minimal Effect on Essential Medical Workforce Growth"

Korea National Health Insurance Service President's Response at Health and Welfare Committee Audit
"Increase in Unnecessary Tests Will Raise Health Insurance Expenditures"

Jeong Gi-seok, Chairman of the National Health Insurance Corporation, is responding to a lawmaker's question at the Health and Welfare Committee's audit held at the National Assembly on the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong Gi-seok, the chairman of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), expressed concerns regarding the government's plan to increase the number of medical school admissions, stating that an increase in the number of doctors could lead to higher health insurance expenditures due to increased medical demand.

At the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee’s audit on the 18th, Chairman Jeong said, "It is certain that supply creates demand" in reference to doctors. He added, "In the past, the U.S. imported doctors due to shortages, which led to an increase in unnecessary tests. As the number of doctors increased, each generated revenue to sustain themselves." He further stated, "If the number of doctors rises, the NHIS’s expenditures will inevitably grow significantly."

When asked whether the increase in medical school admissions would have a trickle-down effect by increasing essential medical personnel, Chairman Jeong responded, "The trickle-down effect should be considered minimal." Regarding the expectation that departments like plastic surgery and dermatology would increase, he said, "That is very obvious."

Chairman Jeong also addressed compensation in essential medical fields, saying, "As you know, the cost preservation for essential medical care is not being maintained properly." He added, "If this issue is addressed well, more medical school graduates will want to work in essential medical fields."

Chairman Jeong, a physician and infectious disease expert, has served as the director of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team. He assumed the position of NHIS chairman in July.

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