On October 10, Gyeongbuk Province, South Korea, announced the implementation of a contract-based regional essential doctor system aimed at addressing its healthcare challenges, particularly in rural areas. This initiative was confirmed after Gyeongbuk was selected for a pilot project overseen by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Given that the province has the lowest number of doctors per capita in the nation, this system is expected to alleviate medical shortages by ensuring that specialists work in local medical facilities for a contracted period between five to ten years. The initiative comes in response to the urgent need for a stable healthcare infrastructure in an area recognized for its medical inadequacies.

The contract-based system involves hiring twenty doctors across various specializations including emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, neurology, and pediatrics. The Gyeongbuk government is collaborating with multiple medical institutions to provide necessary support and incentives for the recruited physicians. To encourage these professionals to stay and work in the region, Gyeongbuk will be investing around 5.3 billion won ($4.5 million) over the next five years, which includes a monthly allowance of 4 million won for the local working doctors, along with establishing supportive living conditions and a regional doctor support center.

Kim Ho-seop, head of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, emphasized that the regional essential doctor system goes beyond mere placement of physicians; it is a structural innovation that aims to redesign the healthcare supply system in rural areas. The program is seen as a crucial step towards solving the persistent healthcare gaps and ensuring that residents have access to essential medical services, reinforcing the commitment of the provincial government to improve healthcare delivery in underserved areas.