[Exclusive] 9,000 Fewer Major Cancer and Heart Surgeries Compared to Last Year Following Resident Doctors' Resignations

Surgery at Secondary Hospitals Increased by 5% but Decreased by 16% at Tertiary General Hospitals

After residents left the hospital in early February, the number of surgeries for the six major cancers?stomach cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, uterine cancer, lung cancer?as well as heart surgeries decreased by nearly 8%. While surgeries at tertiary general hospitals significantly declined due to the departure of residents, the increase in surgeries at general hospitals and hospital-level facilities was minimal.

According to data received on the 7th from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service by Seo Myeong-ok, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the People Power Party, the total number of surgeries for the six major cancers and heart surgeries performed domestically from February to July this year was 109,664. This represents a 7.6% decrease compared to the same period last year (118,665 surgeries), with 9,001 fewer surgeries performed.

By hospital type, surgeries performed at tertiary general hospitals significantly decreased, while surgeries at general hospitals and hospital-level facilities saw a slight increase. From February to July this year, the number of surgeries for the six major cancers and heart surgeries performed at tertiary general hospitals was 67,200, a 14.2% decrease compared to the same period last year (78,261 surgeries).

In contrast, during the same period, the number of surgeries for the six major cancers and heart surgeries performed at general hospitals and hospital-level facilities was 42,464, marking only a 5% increase compared to the previous year (40,404 surgeries).

Looking at surgeries by type, from February to July this year, the number of six major cancer surgeries performed at tertiary general hospitals was 38,383, a 16.8% decrease compared to 46,107 during the same period last year. Meanwhile, six major cancer surgeries conducted at general hospitals and hospital-level facilities during the same period totaled 18,108, showing an increase of over 10% compared to the previous year.

Heart surgeries performed at tertiary general hospitals from February to July this year also amounted to only 28,817. This is about a 10% decrease compared to 32,154 during the same period last year. Heart surgeries at general hospitals and hospital-level facilities during the same period were 24,356, representing a 1.5% increase compared to the previous year.

Assembly member Seo Myeong-ok stated, "There are concerns that the waiting period for surgeries for critically ill patients is lengthening," and added, "The government must actively manage the situation to ensure surgeries can be performed in a timely manner."