Non-face-to-face Medical Service Provider SingleBunggle Sees 6-Fold Surge in Usage Amid 'Medical Crisis'

As conflicts in the National Assembly made hospital visits difficult, the number of telemedicine consultations increased more than sixfold. Earlier, the government lifted regulations on telemedicine, which had been limitedly allowed, in February to fill the medical gap.

According to the Remote Medical Industry Council on the 10th, the total number of telemedicine consultation requests last month from four telemedicine platforms?Goodoc, Namanui Doctor, Doctor Now, and Soldoc?was 155,599, with a daily average of 5,020. In November last year, before the regulation easing, the number of consultation requests was 23,638, with a daily average of 787. Compared to then, this represents an increase of about 6.5 times.

By symptoms, colds and body aches accounted for about 20%, the highest proportion. Among medical departments, pediatrics had a large share. In the case of 'Doctor Now,' pediatrics accounted for 35% of consultation requests. It is interpreted that patients who previously wanted telemedicine but could not receive it due to conditions also flocked in.

However, there was no participation from secondary general hospitals in telemedicine. The government explained, "Most hospital-level medical institutions do not use platforms, so participating institutions may not appear in platform company statistics." According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare based on medical institution claims, the number of hospital-level telemedicine consultations during the one week after regulation easing was 76.

The medical community strongly opposes the expansion of telemedicine. The Korean Medical Association stated, "Telemedicine carries risks of legal disputes, promotes medical overconsumption, and delays treatment of severe and emergency diseases," and urged, "Stop the reckless attempt to expand telemedicine, which was still in the pilot project phase."