After Collective Resignation of Residents... "67% of Public Health Doctors Not Drafted Experienced Stress"

Public Health Doctors Association Conducts Survey on Non-Dispatched Public Health Doctors' Status

According to a survey, about 70% of the 10 public health doctors remaining in medically underserved areas are experiencing stress following the collective resignation of residents. This is due to the workload piling up on those left behind as some were dispatched to large hospitals.

On the 7th, Yonhap News reported the results of a survey conducted by the Korean Association of Public Health Doctors from May 3 to 10 on public health doctors dispatched to large hospitals in various regions and those remaining. The association also pointed out that it is problematic that health centers and branch offices are maintained despite seeing only 1 to 2 patients per day.

Health Center with Lights Off
Photo by Yonhap News

The survey involved 563 respondents (a response rate of 46.4%) out of the total 1,213 public health doctors. Among them, 212 (37.7%) had been dispatched, while 351 (62.3%) had not. Of those who had not been dispatched, 235 (67.1%) reported experiencing stress after their colleagues were dispatched.

Public health doctors cited 'increased workload (78.0%)' as the biggest cause of stress. This was followed by 'helplessness due to forced work' at 71.1%, and 'fear of additional dispatch' at 58.6%.

Additionally, 222 non-dispatched doctors were asked whether their outreach visits increased after their colleagues were dispatched. As a result, 88% answered yes. The number of locations with increased outreach visits was as follows: ‘1 location’ 92 (47.7%), ‘2 locations’ 59 (30.6%), ‘3 locations’ 24 (12.4%), ‘4 locations’ 15 (7.8%), and ‘5 or more locations’ 3 (1.6%). This indicates that the remaining public health doctors took turns covering the vacancies left by those dispatched.

After the dispatch, the remaining public health doctors also faced restrictions on taking sick leave. Among 349 non-dispatched doctors, 156 (44.7%) reported experiencing limitations or refusals when requesting sick leave. Lee Seong-hwan, president of the Public Health Doctors Association, said, "Public health doctors, who dedicate themselves across South Korea and play a vital role in regional healthcare, are reaching their limits."

The association particularly pointed out the problem of maintaining health centers and branch offices that see only 1 to 2 patients per day. President Lee emphasized, "The allocation standards for public health doctors by region should not be left solely to local governments' discretion. Instead, a comprehensive survey of the number of patients seen by public health doctors at each branch office should be conducted to effectively strengthen healthcare." He added, "Policy support and attention are needed so that public health doctors can work in better environments."

According to the Public Health Doctors Association, as of 2018, out of 1,360 health centers and branch offices nationwide, 601 (44.2%) had private medical institutions, excluding Korean medicine clinics and dental clinics, within a 1 km radius.

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