SEOUL: South Korea is grappling with a shortage of paediatricians, which is partly attributed to the world’s lowest birth rate and is increasingly becoming a contributing factor behind it. This scarcity of doctors is posing risks to children’s health and leaving hospitals unable to fill crucial positions, doctors have warned.
Over the past five years, the number of clinics and hospitals for children in the capital city of Seoul has reduced by 12.5 percent, leaving only 456 facilities. In contrast, psychiatry clinics saw a 76.8 percent increase, while anaesthesiology centres experienced a 41.2 percent rise during the same period, according to the Seoul Institute, a public administration think tank.
At the core of this issue lies a birth rate that dropped to 0.78 in 2022, reflecting the average number of expected babies per woman. Compounding the problem is the failure of the insurance system to adapt to this decline, resulting in a lack of resources for paediatrics. Consequently, doctors are reluctant to pursue careers in the field, believing it offers no promising future, according to seven paediatricians who spoke with Reuters.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has confirmed the “limitations” within the health system and stated that steps are being implemented to address these challenges. Ministry data shows that hospitals were only able to obtain the services of 16.3% of the paediatricians they sought in the first half of 2023, a sharp reduction from 97.4% in 2013.
Parents’ Concerns Amid Paediatrician Shortage
The shortage of paediatricians has led to long waiting times for parents seeking medical treatment for their sick children. At a hospital in the outskirts of Seoul, the waiting room was filled with dozens of children, many of whom required intravenous drips. Lee Bo-mi, a 35-year-old mother with a sick 3-year-old boy, expressed her anxiety, stating that they had to wait for two weeks. She added, “I was really scared. It felt like the sky was falling.”
Doctors are concerned that the staff shortages may soon cripple their ability to provide emergency care. Dr Song Dae-jin at Korea University Guro Hospital stated, “At this rate, we would not be able to last the year. It is not a big deal if mild diseases are not treated for a day or two, but the consequences of not seeing serious diseases or emergency patients in a timely manner can result in serious consequences.” The recent death of a 5-year-old boy with a respiratory infection, who failed to find a bed in a hospital, has sparked widespread public outrage.
The low fee structure specific to paediatrics, coupled with the insurance system’s failure to reflect the decrease in child patients, has deterred doctors from pursuing careers in this field. While doctors in foreign countries receive adequate compensation even if they see a smaller number of patients, Korean clinics must see a significantly higher volume to sustain operations due to low reimbursement rates.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has introduced measures this year related to fees and insurance compensation. The ministry has also suggested the establishment of more state-backed health centres and requirements for major hospitals to maintain emergency paediatric treatment. However, doctors argue that these measures are insufficient to cope with the difficulties they face.
The shortage of paediatricians and the resulting strain on healthcare services is adding to the concerns of couples contemplating having children, despite the government’s efforts to reverse the declining birth rate through substantial investments in childcare subsidies. Kim Eun-ji, a 34-year-old mother, expressed her worries about the future of children’s healthcare, stating, “If the number of children’s hospitals decreases and the number of doctors falls, it’s going to be difficult to get children treated.”
