"Expansion of Doctors, Fueling Overconsumption of Medical Care... Concerns Over Health Insurance Collapse"

Wo Bong-sik, Director of Medical Policy Research Institute, CBS Interview
"Increase by 1,000? No system to train"

Woo Bong-sik, head of the Medical Policy Research Institute at the Korean Medical Association, criticized the government's push to increase medical school quotas, saying, "If we look at the causes of emergency room overcrowding and pediatric care crises, the issue is not the number of doctors but institutional problems."

In an interview on June 17 with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Woo said, "Based on the research conducted so far, it is actually impossible to determine whether the number of doctors is too many or too few."

On the 16th, a medical college in downtown Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) announcement that 27,232 doctors will be in shortage by 2035 if medical school quotas are not expanded, Woo stated, "The research report itself is very inadequate. It does not address different systems, supply structures, or healthcare utilization cultures in each country at all," adding, "Making decisions about medical personnel based on one inadequate research report is a very dangerous decision."

In response to criticism that the number of doctors in South Korea is far below the average of OECD countries, he said, "Our environment is different from that of OECD countries," citing the United Kingdom, where doctors are public servants.

He explained, "In the UK, doctors are public servants, so the government hires all of them, controls supply, and assigns them to hospitals. UK doctors protest to hire more doctors to reduce their workload. This is the exact opposite of our situation," adding, "As a result, there are not many good doctors in the UK. Many doctors from overseas, such as Pakistan, work there."

He continued, "Currently, medical overconsumption is a problem, and increasing the number of doctors would be like pouring fuel on the fire of overconsumption, which could ultimately lead to the collapse of health insurance and healthcare itself," pointing out, "According to the 2023-2032 health insurance financial forecast released by the National Assembly Budget Office a week ago, the system will already run a deficit next year, and the accumulated reserves will be depleted by 2028."

Woo also pointed out that even if medical school quotas are increased, the environment for proper education is not prepared. He said, "They say they will increase by 1,000 students every year, but will capable professors suddenly appear to teach those 1,000 students?" adding, "Saying to increase the number unconditionally without any measures is very irresponsible."