Health · Healthcare & Policy · 10 hrs ago
Telemedicine reaches only 26% of South Korea’s remote military units
South Korea’s audit agency found that telemedicine operates at only 95 of 366 remote military units.
The service lets personnel at distant units get prescriptions remotely and receive medicine from medics based there.
A shortage of medical soldiers allowed to handle medicine is limiting its availability.
The Army also stopped supplying digestive medicines, fever reducers and painkillers to units without doctors in 2024, citing concerns about breaking the law.
Some soldiers lack access to basic medicines, and the auditor said ill personnel may have to be driven to civilian hospitals, taking officers away from their duties.
The audit agency will discuss changes with the defense and health ministries, including who can handle medicine and which locations can receive it.
Telemedicine is operational at only 95 of 366 remote South Korean military units, or 26 percent, the Board of Audit and Inspection said.
The audit agency linked the limited coverage to a shortage of medical personnel permitted to handle medication.
At units without doctors, the Army stopped supplying digestive medicines, fever reducers and pain relievers in 2024, citing possible violations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
The audit agency said ill soldiers in remote areas may not receive timely care, and officers sometimes take them to civilian hospitals in personal vehicles.
The agency said it would discuss expanding the locations and personnel authorized to handle medication with the defense and health ministries.
- Who
- South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection reported the findings about the Army’s remote units.
- What
- Telemedicine is available at 95 of 366 remote units, while basic medicines were not supplied to some units without doctors.
- When
- The audit findings were reported on November 9, 2026. The Army stopped supplying certain medicines in 2024.
- Where
- Remote military units in South Korea.
- Why
- A shortage of medical personnel allowed to handle medication limits telemedicine. The Army cited possible violations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act for stopping supplies to units without doctors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Army headquarters stopped supplying digestive medicines, fever reducers and pain relievers to units without doctors; Donga Ilbo dates the decision to August.
The Board of Audit and Inspection reported that telemedicine was operational at 95 of 366 remote units.
- Telemedicine coverage
- 95 of 366 remote units, or 26 percent
- Audit agency
- Board of Audit and Inspection
- Medicine supply change
- Digestive medicines, fever reducers and pain relievers excluded in 2024
- Donga Ilbo report
- 452 remote units lacked fever reducers and pain relievers
- Next step
- Discussions planned with the defense and health ministries to expand authorized locations and personnel
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What people are saying
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.