Telemedicine available at only 26 pct of remote military units

SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- Telemedicine is available at only about a quarter of remote military units due to a lack of medical soldiers allowed to handle medication, the state audit agency said Monday.

Service members at far-off units can be prescribed medicine through telemedicine and receive medications from medics at their units. However, due to a shortage of such personnel, telemedicine is operational at only 95, or 26 percent, of the 366 remote units, according to the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI).

"Service members in remote areas are unable to receive timely medical care, and officers have to transport ill soldiers to civilian hospitals in their personal vehicles, disrupting their military duties," the auditor said.

In addition, the Army headquarters also excluded digestive medicine, fever reducers and pain relievers from the medical supplies distributed to military units without medical doctors in 2024 to prevent unauthorized use of medication.

Field units requested the supplies be replenished, but only limited items like ointments were provided due to concerns that allowing units without medics or doctors to handle medicine could violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

The BAI stated it will hold discussions with the defense and health ministries to expand the scope of designated special locations and the qualifications for those allowed to handle medicine.