South Korea Denies Expanding Role of Traditional Doctors Amid Public Health Doctor Shortage
Amid growing concerns over access to healthcare in rural areas, the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare has firmly denied reports that it is considering expanding the role of oriental medicine doctors to compensate for a decline in the number of public health physicians. The clarification comes after several media outlets reported potential government plans to bolster the role of traditional medicine in public medical institutions and revitalize the local oriental medicine public health industry.
The controversy centers on whether the government is contemplating allowing oriental medicine doctors to perform “minor medical procedures” typically handled by conventional doctors, particularly in areas facing a shortage of qualified personnel. However, a senior official from the Ministry’s Health and Health Policy Department stated on Thursday, August 24th, “Contrary to the article, we have never reviewed or discussed strengthening the oriental medicine treatment function of public medical institutions. We have checked with various bureaus of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but it is an issue that no one knows about.”
The official further emphasized that there are no current plans to broaden the scope of practice for oriental medicine doctors to include primary care procedures. “Specifically, I am not aware of any plans to strengthen the role of oriental medical doctors due to the sharp decline in the number of public information reported in the media. There has also been no review of measures to expand the right to treat ‘minor medical practices’ of oriental medical doctors,” they added. An official from the Ministry’s Oriental Medicine Policy Department echoed this sentiment, stating they had “no knowledge of the reported content.”
However, the Ministry did acknowledge ongoing preliminary work related to the Oriental Medicine Doctors’ Elderly Care System, which is part of the national agenda. This work, officials clarified, is separate from any consideration of expanding the role of oriental medicine doctors in addressing the public health doctor shortage.
The denial follows strong advocacy from the Korean Oriental Medicine Association (KOMA), which has been pushing for a greater role for its members in providing essential medical care, particularly in underserved regions. KOMA argues that oriental medicine doctors can help fill critical gaps in primary care, especially as the number of Western-trained doctors practicing in the public sector declines.
According to a public awareness survey conducted in August by KOMA, the Oriental Medicine Policy Research Institute, and others, a significant majority of respondents – 67.2% – believe that allowing oriental medicine doctors to take on some duties traditionally performed by conventional doctors, after additional training, would improve local public health. Furthermore, 64.8% expressed support for a “Regional/Essential/Public Medical Doctor System” where oriental medicine doctors would acquire specialized expertise and serve in regional areas for a defined period. The survey also revealed that 67.2% of respondents agreed that oriental medicine doctors taking over doctors’ duties after additional training would improve public medical care and health promotion.
Following the initial media reports, KOMA released a statement expressing concern over the decreasing number of public medical doctors and urging the government to actively utilize the country’s 30,000 oriental medicine doctors. “With the number of Western doctors practicing in the public medical field rapidly decreasing, we are concerned that the precious health and lives of the people are being seriously threatened,” the statement read. KOMA further asserted that public health doctors of oriental medicine should be granted the authority to prescribe medications and provide other medical services currently reserved for public health officials.
The debate highlights the ongoing tension between traditional and conventional medicine in South Korea, and the challenges of ensuring equitable access to healthcare in a rapidly aging population. While the Ministry of Health and Welfare has dismissed the reports of an expanded role for oriental medicine doctors, the advocacy from KOMA and the public support revealed in the recent survey suggest that the issue is far from settled. “.
