Seoul National University College of Medicine Professors: "It's Contradictory That Medical Costs Don't Increase Despite More Doctors"

Professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine criticized the government's stance that increasing the number of doctors would not raise medical expenses and would improve doctors' earnings as contradictory.

Kang Hee-kyung, Chairperson of the Emergency Response Committee and Professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine, is delivering the keynote speech at the discussion forum "Medical Reform, Where Is It Heading?" held on the 10th at the Convergence Hall of Seoul National University College of Medicine in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

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The Emergency Response Committee (ERC) of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital released a statement on the 21st titled "Opinions on Increasing Medical School Quotas and National Medical Costs," saying, "The government claims that 'even if the number of doctors increases, the income of each individual doctor will not decrease but rather improve,' while also asserting that 'medical expenses will not increase despite the rise in the number of doctors,' which is a contradictory argument."

They added, "We can only be bewildered," and questioned, "Are doctors' labor costs coming from sources other than medical expenses? Is the current government performing some kind of magic?"

The committee also expressed concerns about the health insurance finances. The ERC stated, "Jang Sang-yoon, the Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, revealed at a forum that 'over the past 20 years, while national income tripled, medical utilization increased eightfold,' meaning that the increase in expenditures due to medical utilization was much greater than the increase in health insurance finances from income growth," adding, "If this trend continues, it implies that more finances will be needed in the future at the same rate."

They further argued, "A report from the National Budget Policy Office warns that health insurance reserves will be depleted by 2028, and by 2030, medical expenses will account for 16% of GDP, the highest level among OECD countries," emphasizing, "Despite the rapidly increasing medical expenses becoming a serious burden on the entire nation, matching supply to the growing medical demand can be interpreted as acknowledging the surge in medical costs."

The ERC also stressed the anticipated rise in reliance on private insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. They stated, "If, as the government claims, medical expenses increase but health insurance rates are not raised accordingly, it will ultimately lead to higher dependence on private insurance or increased out-of-pocket costs, posing a serious threat to those unable to afford medical expenses," and emphasized, "We are deeply concerned that the government's policy may lead to the collapse of the National Health Insurance and the privatization of healthcare."

The ERC additionally urged, "The Presidential Office must clearly disclose how it plans to control the rapidly increasing medical expenses and how much the national medical cost burden, including health insurance premiums, will increase."

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