"When Compared to Other Doctors, I Feel Like a Sinner"…A Pediatrician in His 30s Appeals

Low Fees, Difficulty in Treatment, and Caregiver Attitude Issues Pointed Out
Patients Flock to Hospitals Causing 'Open Run'... Concerns Over Medical Service Gaps

A pediatrician specializing in pediatrics, who gained attention for declaring the 'closure of the department,' revealed the reasons why doctors avoid pediatrics, spreading the discussion online.

On the 9th, an online community posted an article titled 'I am a pediatric specialist. Can I just vent once?' The author, A, who identified himself as a pediatrician in his 30s, presented three reasons why doctors avoid pediatrics.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

First, A pointed out that the basic consultation fee (fee schedule) is too low. He said, "Even if I see 100 to 150 patients a day, the amount of money I can receive per patient is too small," adding, "The basic consultation fee is the same for both children and adults, but adults usually have many tests attached, so there are almost no cases where only the consultation fee is paid."

He wrote, "(Pediatricians) still earn well compared to office workers' annual salaries. But compared to other specialists in similar groups, I feel so discouraged that I almost feel like a sinner for choosing pediatrics." He also shared his difficulties, saying, "No one threatened me with a knife to go into pediatrics. I chose it because I like children. But isn't there an easier path right in front of me?"

He added, "Rather than selling 100 pieces of gum and making a 10,000 won margin, doctors want to freely change professions to sell 10 expensive items and make the same margin."

A then expressed the difficulties of pediatric care. He said, "Unlike adults, children cannot express their pain well. You have to communicate with a third party, the guardian, and identify the illness through a detailed examination," adding, "But children are afraid of doctors. They cry and kick me."

He continued, "Four- to five-year-old children are strong. The kids are innocent, but inevitably my physical strength wears out. Sometimes when middle school students come, I am really grateful," and lamented, "Even with the same 4-minute consultation, seeing 15 children is much harder than seeing 15 adults."

Finally, he criticized the attitude of the children's guardians. A wrote, "My child is precious, but (at the hospital) misguided paternal and maternal love often appears," and said, "After calming down parents who suddenly flare up at strange timings during the consultation process, I feel drained when seeing the next child."

He appealed, "I have often seen doctors lose their livelihoods within a few months due to the combination of misguided paternal and maternal love, mom cafes, and emotional outrage without fact-checking."

A concluded, "I am currently doing other work alongside my specialty, so I think I can survive physically," and said, "If the government solves this well, I can demonstrate my expertise. I plan to escape (from pediatrics), but please hold me back."

Declaring 'Department Closure' Due to Hospital Operation Difficulties... 560 Applied for Specialty Conversion Training

At the press conference titled 'Farewell to the Public from the Pediatric Pulmonology Department' held on March 29, specialists including Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, are greeting attendees.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, in March, the Korean Pediatric Society declared the 'closure of the department,' citing low birth rates, low fees, and continuous income decline as reasons for difficulties in hospital operation. The society announced support for pediatricians wishing to convert to other specialties such as chronic disease, cosmetic, and pain clinics.

According to the society, over the past five years, 617 pediatric clinics and hospitals opened while 662 closed, indicating a decrease in pediatrics itself. This year, it was reported that among 50 university hospitals, 38 had no applicants for pediatric residency at all.

As part of the pediatric department closure, the society accepted applications for specialty conversion training starting on the 11th of next month, and as of the 8th, about 560 people had applied. This accounts for 10% of all pediatricians.

As a result, concerns are growing over medical gaps for children and adolescents, with patients crowding into a few hospitals, causing issues such as pediatric 'open runs.'