South Korean Government Deploys Military Doctors Amid Health System Crisis

On Wednesday, South Korea‘s health ministry commenced the deployment of military and public physicians to emergency rooms across the country, a response to ongoing staff shortages that have severely impacted the healthcare system. This move aims to mitigate the effects of a prolonged crisis sparked by widespread resignations among junior doctors.

The government has initially deployed 15 military doctors to emergency rooms in five hospitals, including Ewha Womans University Medical Centre in Seoul and Ajou University Hospital in Suwon. Plans are underway to dispatch approximately 230 military and public doctors to other hospitals facing critical shortages, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

The crisis began earlier this year when a significant portion of South Korea’s 13,000 junior doctors resigned en masse. Their departure was driven by protests against the government’s decision to significantly increase the medical school admission quota starting next year. This policy aims to address the long-standing issue of doctor shortages but has been met with strong opposition from the medical community.

The mass resignations have placed immense pressure on South Korea’s healthcare system, leading major hospitals to reduce their surgical schedules, limit outpatient services, and restrict emergency room operations. Despite the government’s assurances that the situation is manageable, there is growing concern among doctors and experts that the deployment of military doctors may only serve as a temporary fix rather than a comprehensive solution.

“Military and public doctors would not be able to play a major role, as some of them are not well experienced and nobody is sure about who will shoulder legal responsibilities for possible medical malpractices,” a health official commented, highlighting the complexities and potential risks associated with this emergency measure.

As of Tuesday, several hospitals, including Kangwon National University Hospital in Chuncheon, have adjusted their emergency room hours. Some facilities have shortened their nighttime and weekend operations due to the staffing shortages. Ewha Hospital has restricted its nighttime emergency services to Wednesdays, while Ajou Hospital has done the same for Thursdays. The situation is expected to worsen during the upcoming Chuseok holiday in mid-September, with St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul considering suspending its nighttime ER operations during this period.

There are also concerns about potential gaps in medical services in rural areas and for military personnel. To address these issues, a health ministry official stated that careful consideration is being given to minimise the impact on affected regions while mobilising public medical staff.

The ongoing medical system reform, spearheaded by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, aims to increase the medical school admission quota by 2,000 seats annually over the next five years. The government has already finalised a hike of approximately 1,500 students for the next year. However, there are concerns from doctors that medical schools might struggle to accommodate the increased number of students, which could compromise the quality of medical education and, consequently, the overall quality of medical services in the country.

The current situation reflects deep-seated challenges within South Korea’s healthcare system and underscores the urgent need for effective and sustainable solutions to address both the immediate crisis and long-term healthcare needs.

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