Korean primary, secondary pediatrics clinics may face shortage of doctors

This file photo was taken on Dec. 12. 2022. The pediatric department of Gachon University Gil Hospital in Incheon is empty because medical staffs are away. [Photo by Park Hyung-ki]

The South Korean government’s latest order given to the obstetrics and pediatrics at the country’s tertiary hospitals to establish a full-time hospitalization system as part of its efforts to revive essential medical care is raising concerns that primary and secondary hospitals that operate the same medical specialties may suffer doctor shortage.

According to the medical circle on Sunday, the monthly labor cost of hiring a first-year pediatrician has increased recently by an average of 30 to 40 percent at many secondary hospitals in the capital area.

“Just a few months ago, the salary of doctors who had just completed their residency program was in the range of a few million won, but now it has increased to as much as 15 million won ($11,169),” said an official from a secondary hospital. “The situation is similar for those in obstetrics.”

The medical community believes that the recently announced criteria for designating upper-level general hospitals has contributed to the rising salaries of specialists in both fields.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, tertiary hospitals will be required to have a full-time inpatient care system for pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology and to continuously maintain their inpatient care performance starting January next year.

Failure to comply with the requirement may result in measures such as revocation of designation.

Last year, the Gachon University Gil Hospital suspended its pediatric inpatient care due to a shortage of doctors and the government aims to prevent the recurrence of such confusion.

The problem, however, is the absolute shortage of doctors.

Under such a state, hospitals have no choice but to offer high salaries and other incentives to doctors in order to engage them for always-on medical care. It sparks concerns that the increasing cost of recruiting and retaining doctors may lead to a number of hospitals experiencing financial difficulties. In a typical second-tier hospital, salaries account for about 50 percent of total selling general and administrative expenses.

If upper-level hospitals recruit doctors to meet the conditions set by the Welfare Ministry, few will remain in primary and secondary clinics, according to the industry.

“It will destroy the healthcare delivery system from primary to secondary levels and secondary to tertiary,” said an official from the medical industry.