In nonmetropolitan areas there are only 0.46 essential medical specialists per 1,000 people. In the metropolitan area the figure is four times that, 1.86. Essential medical fields are being avoided because they have higher workloads and greater litigation risk than popular specialties known as "피·안·성" (dermatology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery). Analysis shows that even the limited essential medical workforce is concentrated in the metropolitan area.
Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) on the 21st released results of a study titled "Study on measures to promote people-centered medical reform" with these findings. The institute compared the numbers of essential medical specialists — internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and adolescent medicine, emergency medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery — with regional population sizes.
The local government with the highest number of essential medical specialists per 1,000 people was Seoul at 3.02. It was followed by Gyeonggi (2.42), Busan (0.81), Daegu (0.59) and Incheon (0.55). The lowest were Sejong (0.06), Jeju (0.12), Ulsan (0.18) and North Chungcheong (0.24).
The institute said regional physician wages are high but preference for the metropolitan area continues because of issues with settlement conditions, and that the (relative) low compensation level and high risk of accidents in essential medical fields are worsening workforce gaps. It added that compensation for essential medical care should be expanded and the fee schedule (money the National Health Insurance Service gives hospitals) system needs improvement.
Earlier, the government increased medical school enrollment by 2,000 but restored it to the original 3,058 after backlash from the medical community. The institute said that considering population aging, supply will be insufficient for future medical demand, and that major state research organizations also project a shortfall of 10,000 doctors by 2035. The institute said the appropriate number of medical school seats should be decided through discussion between the government and the medical community.