On July 30, news emerged that South Korea’s Presidential Committee on Healthcare Reform is considering designating the country’s five major hospitals as ‘tier-4 hospitals’ exclusively for treating critically ill patients. These hospitals include Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. If implemented, this proposal could significantly reshape the existing healthcare system, currently divided into three tiers: primary care (clinics), secondary care (hospitals and general hospitals), and tertiary care (advanced general hospitals). The proposed change could have far-reaching implications.
A senior government official confirmed that the committee is evaluating various restructuring options for advanced general hospitals, with detailed plans expected to be revealed by the end of August. The aim is to elevate these institutions to a new level of specialized hospitals, focusing solely on critically ill patients referred from third-tier facilities. These hospitals would also undertake research on severe diseases, positioning themselves as centers of excellence in both treatment and research in critical care.
Within the medical community, there is widespread agreement on the need to transform these hospitals into specialized facilities focused on critical care. Despite a significant protest in February, where over 10,000 medical residents went on strike for five months against the expansion of medical schools, the problem of patients with minor ailments overwhelming these hospitals has persisted. This influx has often delayed care for critically ill patients suffering from conditions like cancer or cardiovascular diseases. A surgery professor at one of these hospitals noted that enhancing critical care capabilities in the current medical landscape necessitates considering this elevation.
If this plan is implemented, the government would need to compensate these hospitals for the loss of revenue from treating non-critical patients, potentially exceeding 3 trillion won (approximately $2.16 billion) annually. Regional hospitals may oppose the policy, arguing that it disproportionately concentrates government support on a select few institutions. Additionally, there could be internal restructuring within these hospitals, potentially leading to reductions in non-essential departments that currently serve a smaller proportion of critically ill patients.
