The number of surgeries at Pusan ​​National University Hospital decreased by 37.6%... Highest decline rate among national university hospitals

Aftermath of legislative conflict in 2024... The hospital bed utilization rate also decreased by 13.4%p compared to 2023.

(Busan = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Seong-je = The number of surgeries at Pusan National University Hospital decreased by 37.6% compared to 2023 before the legislative conflict, showing the highest decline rate among national university hospitals in the country.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare by Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, on the 7th, the number of surgeries at Pusan ​​National University Hospital decreased from 22,417 in 2023 to 13,669 in 2024, when a conflict in legislation occurred.

Last year, the number increased slightly to 13,991, but compared to 2023, it decreased by 37.6%. Among the 10 national university hospitals, the decline rate was the highest. The average reduction rate at national university hospitals was 24.5%.

Following Pusan ​​National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University Hospital showed a decrease of 37.4%, Kyungpook National University Hospital showed a decrease of 32.6%, and Chonnam National University Hospital showed a decrease of 30.1%.

Pusan ​​National University Hospital's bed utilization rate has not recovered to the level before the legislative conflict.

Pusan ​​National University Hospital's bed occupancy rate fell from 70.3% in 2023 to 54.7% in 2024, and last year it was only 56.9%, 13.4 percentage points lower than in 2023.

The average bed occupancy rate of nine national university hospitals excluding Seoul National University Hospital fell from 73.6% in 2023 to 56.4% in 2024 and remained at 56.4% last year.

Last year, the only hospital whose bed occupancy rate exceeded 70% was Jeju National University Hospital (72.0%).

National University Hospital is a key public medical institution in charge of critical and emergency medical care and essential medical care in the region.

However, the hospital bed utilization rate and number of surgeries, which decreased significantly after the legislative conflict, are not showing a clear recovery even in 2025 when the conflict is resolved.

As a result, there are concerns that the decline in the region's capacity to provide critical and essential medical treatment may be prolonged.

Rep. Seo Mi-hwa said, "The medical capacity of the National University Hospital, which has been weakened due to legislative conflicts and a vacuum in regional medical care, must be restored as soon as possible," and "The Ministry of Health and Welfare must strengthen practical support measures, such as expanding human resources and treatment infrastructure, so that the National University Hospital can fulfill its role as a core public medical institution responsible for severe and emergency medical care and essential medical care in the region."