Ahead of the June 3 presidential election, the Korean Pediatric Society has proposed a series of measures to revitalize pediatric healthcare -- urging improvements to the reimbursement system and calling for the enactment of a dedicated Basic Act on the Health of Children and Adolescents.

The society emphasized that for pediatric care to remain sustainable, reimbursement rates must be aligned with actual medical costs, and dedicated legislation is needed to reduce the “judicial risk” faced by pediatric healthcare professionals.

These recommendations were made Wednesday during the 2025 Policy Symposium at Seoul National University Hospital, held under the theme “Children's Healthcare in Crisis, A Better Alternative.”

The society stressed that enacting a Basic Act on the Health of Children and Adolescents would lay the legal foundation for urgently needed care and long-term policy improvements. It also underscored the need for legal protections for pediatric and adolescent medical staff, citing a sharp rise in medical disputes as a major burden.

To revitalize pediatric care, the society called for increased reimbursement rates for newborn and pediatric treatments, along with expanded additional reimbursement points for various procedures and surgeries.

In a bid to build a robust regional pediatric care system, the society proposed:

● Expanding state responsibility for training pediatricians and pediatric surgeons

● Establishing a regional support system for pediatric medical care

● Developing tailored reimbursement schemes for regional services

● Enhancing government support through policy and financial incentives

“A basic law on the health of children and adolescents should be enacted to ensure essential care and establish a mid- to long-term policy foundation,” the society said. “The growing burden of litigation and disputes related to complex and severe pediatric cases threatens the sustainability of the current system. Legal protections equivalent to those in developed nations are urgently needed.”

“The existing pediatric healthcare infrastructure was designed for an era of 1 million newborns per year. It is no longer tenable in today’s reality, where annual births have plummeted to 250,000,” the society added. “We must adjust consultation fees and procedural reimbursements to reflect these changing conditions.”

The society also urged the government to take the lead in systematizing pediatrician and pediatric surgeon training and to increase investment substantially. To address the collapse of regional pediatric care, it advocated establishing support structures that retain pediatricians in underserved areas through incentives and tailored compensation.

A broader workforce support system is also needed, they said, including tax benefits, family support, and career management resources. Such support would enable regional hospitals and training centers to effectively fulfill their pediatric care responsibilities.

Kim Han-suk, president of the Korean Pediatric Society and a physician at Seoul National University Hospital, called on the incoming government to integrate these policy proposals into its pediatric healthcare agenda.

“In politically and economically turbulent times, investing in children’s health is more important than ever,” Kim said. “We hope the recommendations from this symposium will serve as meaningful guidance in shaping Korea’s future pediatric healthcare policy.”