SNUH outpatient waiting times soar 68% to 57 days in 2024

Last year, the average waiting period for outpatient care at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) reached 57 days.

The average waiting period at national university hospitals nationwide was also reported at 22 days. The conflict between the government and the medical community over the previous administration’s plan to expand medical school enrollment quotas was cited as a major cause.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education to Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party of Korea, the average waiting period in the first half of this year was 20.9 days. This represents a slight decrease compared to last year's 22.3 days, when waiting times were prolonged due to the government-doctor conflict.

The waiting period for outpatient care at national university hospitals had been steadily increasing annually before surging significantly in 2024 when the conflict erupted. The average waiting period was 13.3 days in 2020, rising to 14.3 days in 2021, 16.7 days in 2022, and 18.7 days in 2023, before surging to 22.3 days in 2024. It then decreased to 20.9 days in the first half of this year.

Seoul National University Hospital had the longest outpatient waiting period during the conflict and subsequent healthcare void. Its waiting time increased by about 68 percent, from 34 days in 2023 to 57 days last year. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) also saw an increase of about 21 percent, from 43 days to 52 days during the same period.

Following them were Chonnam National University Hospital with 34.7 days, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital with 21.4 days, and Kyungpook National University Hospital with 19.5 days.

While most national university hospitals saw a slight decrease in outpatient waiting times this year, Kangwon National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, and Jeonbuk National University Hospital experienced an increase of at least one day compared to last year. Gyeongsang National University Hospital saw the largest increase, with waiting times lengthening by four days.

“Due to the Yoon administration's medical policy conflicts, a serious situation has arisen where even national university hospitals—pivotal medical institutions safeguarding public health—cannot provide timely treatment,” Seo said. “The medical delivery system must be fundamentally improved so citizens can receive necessary care without missing the golden time.”