Regional Public Hospitals in Crisis: 19 Departments Suspended at 13 Facilities Over Three Years

Reason for Service Suspension: Lack of Physicians
"Competitiveness Must Improve and Patterns of Medical Service Utilization Must Change"

It has been found that, over the past three years, several regional public hospitals across the country have suspended certain medical departments due to a shortage of doctors.

According to the "Status of Service Suspension by Regional Public Hospitals Nationwide," submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to Assemblywoman Seo Myungok of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, a total of 19 departments in 13 out of 35 regional public hospitals nationwide have ceased operations from 2023 through this month. The sole reason for all service suspensions was a lack of medical personnel.

Many of the suspended departments are essential medical services. Samcheok Medical Center has halted its pediatrics department since November last year, and Gangjin Medical Center stopped pediatric services in June this year. Yeongwol Medical Center suspended neurology in September, Andong Medical Center has not offered general surgery since April last year, and Gimcheon Medical Center stopped thoracic surgery in April this year.

Some hospitals have experienced prolonged service suspensions lasting nearly one to two years. The ophthalmology department at Gongju Medical Center has been closed since March 2023, and at Chungju Medical Center since May 2023, causing ongoing inconvenience for patients for about two years.

Experts generally agree that the staffing crisis at regional public hospitals is due to patient avoidance and the resulting vicious cycle. Jeong Jaehoon, Professor of Preventive Medicine at Korea University College of Medicine, stated, "It is a complex issue, but the main problem is the competitiveness of public hospitals. Because patients do not visit these hospitals, it is difficult to match doctors’ compensation to that of private hospitals. The modernization of facilities is also sluggish, which further discourages patients, creating a vicious cycle."

Choi Anna, Director of Gangneung Medical Center, also said, "As both doctors and patients flock to the Seoul metropolitan area, the competitiveness of regional public hospitals is weakening. Policies that only focus on supply are not enough to prevent the disappearance of regional healthcare. Supply can only be maintained if there are patients." She added, "Policies are needed to change the way people use medical services, such as supporting doctor salaries at the level of private hospitals and reducing out-of-pocket expenses when using regional public hospitals."

There are also suggestions that a strategy of selection and concentration is necessary to enhance the competitiveness of regional public hospitals. Professor Jeong said, "Policies are needed to strengthen the capabilities of regional public hospitals that are difficult to replace. For hospitals that are realistically unsustainable, it may be necessary to transfer public functions and related support to nearby, more competitive medical institutions."

Some have called for actively considering short-term measures to curb the decline of regional healthcare by preemptively adopting self-help strategies implemented by certain institutions. For example, Chonnam National University Hospital, a national university hospital, is dispatching specialists to regional public hospitals struggling to secure doctors as part of a pilot project. Through this project, Chonnam National University Hospital is known to have dispatched a total of eight specialists to Gangjin, Mokpo, and Suncheon Medical Centers.

Assemblywoman Seo urged, "Regional public hospitals are experiencing a vicious cycle of medical staff departures and recruitment difficulties. Fundamental and long-term solutions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare level are urgently needed."

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