Only 12 Thoracic Surgery Residents Left Nationwide... "Unable to Perform Over 20,000 Annual Heart and Lung Cancer Surgeries"

"No Specialist-Centered Hospital Without Producing New Specialists"

It has been found that only 12 thoracic surgery residents nationwide continue their training.

[Image source=Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery website]

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery announced on the 29th the current status of resident training, stating, "This is an ultra-emergency situation where the future is disappearing, and national-level response is necessary."

According to the society's tally of thoracic surgery resident resignations from the 24th to the 26th, out of 107 thoracic surgery residents nationwide, 75 have been processed as resigned, and 20 are on hold awaiting resignation processing. The residents currently working after returning include 3 first-year, 2 second-year, 1 third-year, and 6 fourth-year residents, totaling 12.

The maximum number of new thoracic surgery specialists that can be produced next year is six, and it is expected that the number of residents nationwide will be in the single digits next year.

By region, there are 5 in Daejeon and Chungnam, and 2 each in Seoul, Gyeongbuk, and Daegu. One resident remains in each of the three regions: Gyeonggi-Incheon, Gyeongnam-Busan-Ulsan, and Jeonnam-Gwangju. There are none in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, or Jeju.

The society stated, "The production of new specialists and the revitalization of regional healthcare have already collapsed, and regional cardiovascular centers or emergency medical centers can no longer operate," adding, "The impact of resident resignations over the next few years will be very significant."

They continued, "While surgeries and other treatments may be maintained for the time being, the duration will not be long due to the inability to deploy new specialists," and added, "With only 12 residents, it is impossible to complete over 20,000 heart surgeries and lung cancer surgeries annually."

They also argued that residents must be able to return to training to produce new specialists. The society explained, "A specialist-centered hospital is impossible without producing new specialists," and "We must first create conditions where residents can dream again and be by the patients' side."

Furthermore, they said, "The sacrifice will be borne by future heart disease and lung cancer patients," and added, "Neglecting the situation now is a sin, and since there is no time, everything possible must be done."

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