An emergency patient at the Seoul National University Hospital’s emergency room in Jongno-gu, Seoul, rides an ambulance on the 8th, a week before the Chuseok holiday, to move for treatment. Reporter Choi Hyun-kyu,
, ‘A survey found that out of 10 local patients who visited Seoul in the first half of this year, 6 of them received treatment at the so-called ‘Big 5′ hospitals. With the activation of the emergency medical system following a mass resignation of specialists in February, many hospitals reduced their medical services, and the concentration of patients at major hospitals in Seoul, such as major general hospitals, has remained constant.’,
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, ‘According to data submitted by Kim Mi-ae, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, to the National Health Insurance Service, about 60% of local patients who visited large hospitals in Seoul, including major general hospitals and general hospitals, in the first half of this year received treatment at the Big 5 hospitals.’,
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, ‘There are 14 major general hospitals in Seoul, including Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Seoul Asan Medical Center, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, and 44 general hospitals.’,
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, ‘From January to June, a total of 1,678,067 patients from outside Seoul visited major general hospitals and general hospitals in Seoul, and 59.3% of them, totaling 994,401 patients, received treatment at the Big 5 hospitals. Based on the 14 major general hospitals in Seoul, during the same period, 77.1% of 1,289,118 patients from outside Seoul visited Big 5 hospitals for treatment.’,
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, ‘There was also a clear concentration of medical visits. In the first half of this year, the number of medical visits by non-Seoul residents to major general hospitals and general hospitals in Seoul totaled 5,304,653, of which 59.7%, or 3,168,943 visits, were conducted at the Big 5 hospitals.’,
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, ‘The share of medical expenses at the Big 5 hospitals was also significant. The medical expenses for non-Seoul residents at major general hospitals and general hospitals in Seoul in the first half of this year amounted to 2,387,094,000,000 KRW, of which the Big 5 hospitals accounted for 65.4% (1,560,275,000,000 KRW).’,
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, ‘Kim emphasized the need to significantly strengthen regional medical services so that patients with serious illnesses can receive treatment with peace of mind at regional hub hospitals with the highest standards and expertise. Kim stated, “We must establish a ‘regional comprehensive medical system’ to ensure that all citizens can enjoy high-quality medical services anywhere, and in particular, we must improve the concentration of patients at Big 5 hospitals by resolving regional disparities in medical care.”‘