[비즈한국] Medical services at public health centers and local health clinics in medically underserved areas have faced severe shortages following the medical-government conflict, which led to the reassignment of public health doctors (PHDs) to large hospitals. While concerns are rising that the 6.5-fold increase in medical students choosing active military duty this year compared to last year could lead to a shortage of public health doctors, others suggest that residents whose resignations were processed could become the key to the solution as they serve as military medical officers or PHDs next year.
According to the 'Status of Public Health Doctor Deployment at Public Health Centers/Clinics' obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare last month by Representative Seo Young-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea, as of June, 9 out of 138 public health centers designated for PHDs had no doctors assigned. For local health clinics, 558 out of 1,223, or 45.6%, lack a PHD. This is an 18.0 percentage point increase compared to the previous year's 27.6% (337 out of 1,220).
The shortage of public health doctors is not a recent problem. Compared to 10 years ago, the number of medical PHDs has decreased by 979. While factors like the service period (38 months), which is roughly twice as long as regular military service, have been cited as reasons for their low popularity, and discussions on shortening this term have taken place in government ministries and the National Assembly, no progress has been made. The government has proposed solutions such as 'circuit clinics,' where one PHD rotates between multiple locations, and 'allowing non-face-to-face treatment' at health centers to maintain minimal medical services. However, since the mass resignation of residents led to PHDs being drafted to large hospitals, voices from the field are complaining that it has become even harder to find a PHD.
Amidst this, attention is focused on whether the residents who became subject to conscription after resigning can fill these medical gaps. According to the Military Manpower Administration, as of the end of October this year, there are 3,480 medical officer candidates who have resigned from residency training institutions, which is about three times the usual annual average of 1,000. Under current military law, residents who have discontinued their training must enlist in the near future and cannot enlist as regular soldiers. Consequently, the Military Manpower Administration, anticipating potential wait times before actual enlistment, has sent notices to resigned residents asking about their preferred enlistment timing.
According to the notice, the Military Manpower Administration stated, “It has been confirmed that you have resigned from your training hospital, and you are a subject for enlistment as a medical officer candidate under Article 120 of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act. For 2025, the number of enlistees is expected to significantly exceed average levels, which may result in waiting periods of 1 to 4 years for actual enlistment,” and asked them to indicate their preferred enlistment period among 2025, 2026, or 2027 and beyond. This survey began on the 18th and will run until the 29th. Resigned residents who received the text or mail must reply within this period.
Some residents intend to return to their training hospitals rather than join the military. However, according to training regulations, personnel who leave midway cannot return to the same department and year within one year. Since the order prohibiting the processing of residents' resignations was lifted around June, it is said that returning in March is impossible unless the government grants special exemptions once again. As the Korean Intern Resident Association and the Korean Medical Association's emergency committee still set the 're-examination of the 2025 medical school admissions quota' as a prerequisite for dialogue, the likelihood of the government being accommodating to the residents once more appears low.
Lee Sung-hwan, head of the Korean Public Health Doctors Association, stated in a phone call with BizHankook, "If the number of enlistees increases, the PHD shortage problem is likely to be solved naturally," adding, "We also need to supplement areas where personnel are over-deployed. In places where medical infrastructure, including private medical centers, is sufficient, there is no need for PHDs. However, due to a lack of efficiency, there are cases where doctors are continuously assigned to local clinics that do not see a single patient a day. I believe that by resolving these issues while utilizing the personnel coming in next year, we could fill the gaps in local medical care more comprehensively."