South Korea Launches Committee to Address Doctor Shortages, Project Future Needs

Seoul, south korea – December 13, 2023 – South Korea’s Ministry of Health adn Welfare today formally convened the frist meeting of a new independent commission tasked with analyzing the nation’s current and future doctor supply and demand.The move comes amid growing concerns about uneven healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, and an aging population placing increased strain on the medical system.

The “Doctor Personnel Supply and Demand Committee,” held at T-Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, is designed to provide data-driven recommendations to policymakers. chairman Kim Tae-hyun of the Korean Health and Economic Policy Association, speaking at the meeting, emphasized the committee’s commitment to objective analysis. “We will play a role in estimating how much more doctors are needed or less and how much professional subjects are necessary,” he stated, adding that the assessment will be based on professional expertise, avoiding bias from specific organizations.

This commission represents a important step towards a more systematic approach to healthcare workforce planning in South Korea. Historically, decisions regarding physician quotas and specialization have been contentious, frequently enough influenced by lobbying from medical associations and political considerations.

Long-Term Planning & Committee Composition

The committee’s initial focus will be establishing robust models, methodologies, and key variables for projecting doctor needs over the medium to long term. This includes analyzing factors like population demographics, disease prevalence, advancements in medical technology, and regional distribution of healthcare resources.

The 15-member commission is structured to reflect a balance of perspectives, though with a majority portrayal from medical supplier organizations, as mandated by law. Specifically:

Supplier Representatives (8): Including Professor Gyebong-oh (Kookmin University), kim Hyun-cheol (Yonsei University Medical university & Vice-Chairman of the Medical Policy Research Institute), Lee Sun-hee (Ewha Womans University), and lee Sang-kyu (Yonsei University Convergence Health and Medical Graduate School).
Consumer/Patient Representatives (4): Including Kang Hee-jeong (Director of Health Security Policy Research Institute), Kim Young-soo (Professor, Gyeongsang national University), Kim Jin-hyun (Professor, seoul National University), and Kwon jung-hyun (Korea Development Institute – KDI).
* Independent Experts/Researchers (3): Including Professor hyung-Sun Jung. Kim Tae-hyun,Chairman of the Korea Health and Economy Policy Association,also falls into this category.

The Ministry of health and Welfare selected the members from a pool of experts nominated by 21 related organizations, including medical associations, consumer groups, and research institutions. The commission is directly under the purview of the Minister of health and Welfare.

Context & Future Implications

South Korea currently faces a relatively low doctor-to-population ratio compared to other OECD countries. While the country boasts a highly advanced healthcare system, access to specialized care and timely treatment remains a challenge, particularly in rural provinces. The goverment has been under increasing pressure to address these disparities.

The committee’s findings, expected to be released periodically, will be crucial in informing future policy decisions regarding medical school admissions quotas, residency program allocations, and incentives for doctors to practice in underserved areas. The results will also likely fuel debate about the optimal balance between increasing the overall number of doctors and improving the efficiency and accessibility of the existing healthcare infrastructure.

Reporting by Choi Tae-won, Asiae.co.kr