The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
Saturday, Nov 17, 2012
The military's medical treatment system is receiving public criticism following its latest blunder that led an enlisted man to lapse into a coma.
Even though experts have called for improved medical services in the army, the Ministry of Defence continues to see accidents and deaths stemming from treatment mishaps occurring every year.
Last Monday, Corporal Kim Yoo-seung with the Fifth Corps' armored brigade was transferred to Asan Medical Center where he has been unconscious after belatedly being diagnosed with scrub typhus, an infectious disease, by army medics.
He was left with no proper treatment for a week, facing a near-death situation before moving to the civilian hospital, according to Kim's family.
A number of soldiers reportedly face death every year due to improper or no medical treatment.
Experts said that the military has a lack of career surgeons, in addition to insufficient medical resources and equipment.
There are barely any career doctors in the military where a majority of army surgeons are medical school graduates with no professional experience and just need to fulfil three years of mandatory service.
Only one army doctor with two medics is normally stationed at a battalion of over 100 soldiers. There is also usually a staff sergeant, who is not required to have a medical background, stationed with the medic team.
"The other issue is that the army does not have a solid network with civilian hospitals," said an official with the Center for Military Human Rights.
"It also does not have the resources to allocate to military bases, especially in the front line where medical services are much needed."
Observers also said that the military faces limited financial resources to boost either the number of doctors or medical supplies as its spending is mostly allocated to boosting Korea's defence capability through the advancement of its weapon systems.
In the Ministry of National Defence's 2013 budget, it has set aside some 8 billion won ($7.4 million) for health-care system improvement, including increasing the number of medical staff, health checkups and vaccine programs, out of more than 34 trillion won in total.
The defence agency plans to allocate 24.1 trillion to the operation and maintenance of its strategic military bases, which includes boosting the welfare of its soldiers, and providing other necessities such as high-tech training equipment.
The rest will be used for boosting defence capability and operations.
