A significant increase has been reported in the waiting times for surgeries among patients with the seven major cancers due to conflicts in the medical system. The proportion of patients waiting more than a month for surgery has approached 50% of the total.
According to data submitted by Kim Yun, a member of the Democratic Party, from the National Health Insurance Service on the 30th, the waiting time for surgeries for patients with the seven major cancers in South Korea last year was 43.2 days. This represents an increase of 5.3 days compared to the 37.9 days waiting time in 2023.
The number of cancer surgery patients last year was 25,680, a decrease of 7.3% compared to the previous year. However, among cancer patients, those with waiting times of more than 31 days increased from 40.7% to 49.6%, an increase of 8.9% over the same period.
By healthcare institution, the number of cancer surgery patients in tertiary hospitals decreased from 21,013 in 2023 to 16,742 last year, a drop of 20.3%, and the average waiting time increased from 40.2 days to 46.4 days, an increase of 6.2 days. In particular, the number of patients in the so-called 'Big 5' major university hospitals decreased by 51.48% during this period. It is interpreted that the waiting times for surgeries for cancer patients have lengthened as resident doctors have left due to conflicts in the medical system.
According to research by Professor Yoon Young-ho from Seoul National University, when surgeries are delayed for over a month in hospitals with fewer surgical cases, the survival rates for patients with major cancers such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and rectal cancer decrease. In particular, breast cancer patients see their risk of death more than double.
To investigate the harm suffered by patients due to the healthcare crisis, Representative Kim also proposed a bill to partially amend the Basic Medical Law. This bill aims to establish a definition of 'national healthcare crisis situations.'
Representative Kim Yun stated, "The delays in surgeries for cancer patients and the increasing instances of patients being sent back and forth in emergency rooms due to gaps in healthcare must not continue," and added, "A law to investigate the actual conditions of patient harm is essential to prepare fundamental measures."