Number of Dermatology Clinics Up 12% in 5 Years
Only a Few Treat Skin Diseases
Recently, Mr. A, who caught athlete's foot after frequently wearing thick socks in cold weather, visited a dermatology clinic in Seoul and had a frustrating experience. He was advised by the clinic staff that athlete's foot can be cured by applying medicine and was recommended to visit a nearby hospital instead. Mr. A lamented, "There are plenty of dermatology clinics in Seoul, but it makes no sense that patients with skin problems cannot receive treatment."
As cold and dry weather continues, the number of people suffering from skin conditions such as hives and atopic dermatitis is increasing. However, it has been found that dermatology clinics often turn these patients away. With cosmetic procedures and treatments becoming the priority for dermatology clinics, patients with actual skin diseases are even being directed to lists of other medical departments where direct treatment is possible.
On the 23rd, Asia Economy analyzed data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service's 'Healthcare Big Data Open System' and found that the number of clinic-level medical institutions labeled as dermatology in 2023 was 1,436, a 12.3% increase from 1,279 in 2018, five years earlier. During the same period, the number of doctors working in dermatology clinics increased by 13.8%, from 2,157 to 2,454.
Although the infrastructure for skin treatment has improved, complaints are emerging everywhere that it is difficult to receive treatment for actual skin diseases. This issue is particularly severe in the Gangnam area, where the proportion of cosmetic procedure-focused dermatology clinics is high. Mr. Kim (37), who is raising a three-year-old child with atopic dermatitis in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, complained, "There are dozens of dermatology clinics within a 1 km radius, but to get treatment related to atopic dermatitis, I have to take a taxi to another district."
In fact, when the reporter inquired at 15 dermatology clinics in the Gangnam area whether they could perform a skin biopsy for suspected melanoma, only one clinic responded affirmatively. The clinics that refused treatment were focusing on high-priced procedures such as Botox, fillers, laser treatments, and hair transplants.
As it becomes harder to receive treatment for skin diseases, posts sharing information about other medical departments that provide related care are being posted online one after another. In response to requests for recommendations for hospitals treating skin diseases, comments such as "Go to ○○ clinic where an elderly doctor sincerely treats outpatients" appeared. Another comment said, "For burns, you can go to surgery, and for atopic dermatitis, family medicine clinics are also acceptable."
Experts point out the need for legal measures to distinguish between clinics that treat skin diseases and those focused on cosmetic procedures. Professor Eunhee Lee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies stated, "It is a violation of consumer rights when dermatology clinics, which should treat minor skin conditions like mole removal, selectively accept patients," and suggested, "There is a need to set recommended or mandatory proportions for skin disease treatment when opening dermatology clinics."
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