President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasized his will to reform the medical sector on the 24th, saying, “The government will do everything it can to steadily push forward with medical reform, along with increasing the number of doctors, so that the people can receive high-quality medical services without worry, anytime, anywhere.”
In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Presidential Office in Yongsan on this day, President Yoon said, “Without medical reform, we cannot rebuild a regionally balanced essential medical system that protects the lives and health of the people.”
This comes amid growing interest in whether the differences of opinion on the readjustment of medical school enrollment for the 2025 school year will be narrowed during the dinner meeting with party leaders that day. While the government maintains that adjusting enrollment next year is impossible since the entrance exam has already begun, People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is insisting that the relevant agenda item should also be included.
President Yoon mentioned that the Chuseok emergency week that has been in operation for two weeks since the 11th ends on the 25th, and said, “There were many voices of concern, but thanks to the cooperation of the people, the dedication of the medical staff, and the preemptive response of the government and local governments, we were able to enjoy the holiday without major difficulties.”
President Yoon explained, “If we look at the cases of delayed transport and emergency room rush during this holiday period, most of them are patients with implantable ligaments, premature births, newborns, and cardiovascular diseases, and the fundamental cause is the absolute shortage of essential medical specialists in charge of follow-up treatment.”
He continued, “Along with the problem of an absolute shortage of specialists, the unfair compensation for doctors providing essential medical care to critically ill patients, and the excessive legal risks, essential medical care has gradually collapsed without being resolved,” and emphasized, “This is precisely why our government is pursuing medical reform.”
He said, “Without medical reform, we cannot rebuild a regional, balanced essential medical system that protects the lives and health of the people.”
President Yoon also announced, “At today’s State Council meeting, we will establish a special provision to allow local governments to use their disaster management funds for emergency medical treatment in order to further strengthen cooperation between the central and local emergency medical treatment systems.”
He continued, “This will clarify the basis for using the disaster management fund to support emergency medical institutions and medical personnel, and will enable us to quickly provide human and material resources needed in local medical settings.”
President Yoon urged, “I urge relevant ministries and local governments to mobilize all available resources and strengthen cooperation to maintain a strong emergency medical system, including emergency medical care.”
Photo courtesy of the Office of the President, Kim Jeong-hyeon
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2024-09-24 13:56:33