Whats to Be Done About the Brain Drain in Vital Areas?
Following the government’s a drastic increase in the range of medical fees paid for cardiothoracic surgery in July, Samsung Medical Center has dramatically boosted the salaries of its cardiothoracic surgeons from around W2.5 million a month to more than W5 million (US$1=W1,184). Although it is seen as the pinnacle of the medical profession, the comparatively low salaries earned by cardiothoracic surgeons in Korea have prompted medical students to opt for more lucrative specialties. The National Health Insurance Corporation had set the fee for surgery to treat acute cardiac arrest at just W2 million, although the procedure requires three to four surgeons, three to four nurses and one to two other specialists. In contrast, plastic surgeons earn around W6.5 to W7.5 million for breast augmentation surgery and between W1.2 to W1.8 million for double eyelid surgery. This is why there is a shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons in Korea, and why hospitals were able to hire only 20 percent of the
