In 2019, an 11-year-old boy, A, underwent surgery at a local orthopedic clinic to correct a bone alignment issue in the growth plate area of his leg. However, the pain persisted, prompting a visit to a university hospital. It was discovered that the surgery had been performed as if on an adult, leading to poor blood circulation and partial decay of the thigh bone. He was then treated at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital in the Pediatric Orthopedics Department, where surgeons cut, realigned, and reattached his bone. Shin Chang-ho, a professor of pediatric orthopedics at the hospital, noted, “Children have entirely different physical characteristics from adults, often requiring specialized medical professionals for surgery. However, due to low reimbursement rates from the National Health Insurance Service, declining birth rates, and the risk of lawsuits, the number of pediatric orthopedic specialists in South Korea is steadily decreasing.”
Pediatric surgery, which involves treating rare diseases and performing complex procedures, faces a similar challenge. Unlike pediatrics, which is recognized as essential healthcare, pediatric surgery is slowly being neglected. Currently, only 10 pediatric orthopedic surgeons across all university hospitals in the country focus exclusively on children. A decade ago, about 12 new specialists in pediatric orthopedics were trained annually; now, that number has dropped to just four, a third of the previous figure. Many existing specialists are retiring, and a significant portion of the few new specialists are moving into private practice.
The situation is equally dire in pediatric otolaryngology. Only three professors nationwide are capable of performing complex surgeries for conditions like respiratory difficulties, and none are based in the Honam region (Jeolla-do). In pediatric urology, only 10 professors can perform surgeries for congenital genital malformations, and the department has been operating for over three years without a fellow— a senior specialist training to become a professor. Additionally, only 24 pediatric anesthesiologists nationwide are qualified to maintain optimal conditions, such as blood pressure and body temperature, during pediatric surgeries.
