The number of paediatric clinics and hospitals in the capital has fallen by 12.5% over the five years to 2022, to just 456.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare acknowledged “limitations” in the system and said measures were being implemented to address them. A five-year-old boy with a respiratory infection died in May after failing to find a hospital bed, sparking a public outcry. “In foreign countries, the government pays enough to maintain the hospital even if you see 20 patients a day,” said Dr Lim Hyun-taek, president of Korean Paediatric Association, who said fees had not been raised significantly for 30 years.By comparison, it costs about A$335 for initial standard consultation with an Australian paediatrician, while observation at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the US costs US$208 per hour, according to its website.
Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service shows paediatricians are South Korea’s lowest paid doctors, making 57% less than the average doctor’s salary.Sowha Hospital, South Korea’s oldest children’s hospital, recently suspended Saturday afternoon and Sunday treatment for the first time in 77 years due to a lack of staff.
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