The government supports 94 senior doctors this year to prevent local medical gaps. Senior doctors are specialists aged 60 and over who provide medical care in local health centers and medical institutions. As essential medical services in the region collapsed due to conflicts with the medical community, the government is utilizing experienced senior doctors.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare noted on the 27th that it would support 94 senior doctors in 57 local health centers and medical institutions this year. Senior doctors must have obtained a specialty and have over 10 years of experience in a university or general hospital, and over 20 years in a hospital-level medical institution. Senior doctors work more than 30 hours a week and earn 11 million won per month. Those working part-time for 15 to 30 hours a week earn 4 million won per month.
This year, 74 senior doctors will work more than 30 hours a week, while the remaining 20 will work part-time. The government supports the expense of hiring these individuals in local health centers and medical institutions. The public health care law allows the government to promote projects for public health care and secure medical personnel or provide financial support.
Eighty-four percent of senior doctors this year work outside the capital area. Regionally, there are 21 in South Chungcheong, 17 in North Gyeongsang, 15 in Gyeonggi, 13 in Gangwon, 12 in North Jeolla, 6 in South Jeolla, 3 each in North Chungcheong and South Gyeongsang, and 2 each in Busan and Jeju.
The medical specialties include 13 in internal medicine, 10 in surgery, 9 in orthopedic surgery, and 8 in anesthesiology and pain medicine. Additionally, there are 6 in urology, 5 each in obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics, 4 each in neurosurgery and radiology, 3 in family medicine, and 2 each in neurology, otolaryngology, and diagnostic laboratory medicine, and 1 each in radiation oncology, pathology, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, emergency medicine, rehabilitation medicine, and dermatology. There are plans to hire 14 more.
Last year, as conflicts with the medical community caused medical personnel to leave the field, the government used contingency funds to support the hiring of 80 senior doctors. This year, it will actively promote the senior doctor support project using national funds. Previously, local health centers and medical institutions applied to the government for support funds to hire senior doctors by last month.
The government decided on this support after evaluation by a selection committee composed of public officials and experts. Medical institutions in Seoul are not eligible for support. A Ministry of Health and Welfare official said, "I hope this helps the local medical care struggling with a shortage of doctors."