Doctors walk down a hallway at a general hospital in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will begin subsidizing malpractice insurance premiums for doctors working in critical but increasingly underserved medical specialties, the government announced Monday, in an effort to ease legal burdens that have driven many physicians away from essential care.
Under the new program, the state will cover 50 to 75 percent of liability premiums for obstetricians, pediatric surgeons and other doctors in high-risk fields, including residents in core training departments such as internal medicine, surgery and emergency care.
The initiative reflects a broader policy goal to reinforce national responsibility for patient safety in essential medical services.
Officials say specialties tied to childbirth and children face comparatively high rates of litigation and compensation claims, creating financial risk that contributes to physicians leaving these fields. Insurance coverage currently varies widely, and many clinics remain either uninsured or underinsured.
The Health Ministry has allocated 5.025 billion won (about $3.6 million) this year to launch the system. For eligible specialists, the government will fund up to 75 percent of annual premiums — roughly 1.5 million won per doctor — for policies covering malpractice claims between 300 million and 1 billion won.
Residents will receive half of their premiums subsidized for coverage above their hospitals’ base liability.
Hospitals already carrying malpractice insurance may opt for reimbursement at equivalent levels.
The government plans to select participating insurers in the coming weeks and aims to activate the first policies in December. Officials hope the support will encourage more physicians to remain in or return to high-risk specialties amid mounting concerns over shortages in maternal and pediatric care.
“Building a reliable safety net for malpractice cases is essential to overcoming the legal risks facing essential medical fields,” said Kim Kuk-il, the ministry’s head of health policy. “Our goal is a system that protects both doctors and patients.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
