The ruling and opposition party consultative body discussing solutions to the medical vacuum has been unable to launch before the Chuseok holidays due to difficulties such as discussions on the “re-adjustment of the increase in medical school enrollment for the 2025 school year.” On the morning of the 13th, People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon urged the medical community to participate, saying, “The government is not trying to limit the agenda. This is what I am proposing, so just listen to me.” However, doctors’ groups, including the Korean Medical Association (KMA), stated that “it is premature to participate in the consultative body at a time when the government has not changed its attitude,” and announced that they have no intention of participating in the consultative body for the time being. The opposition party has made the participation of representative doctors’ groups, such as the KMA, a condition for the launch of the consultative body.
The Korean Medical Association, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, the Korean Medical School Professors’ Association (KMSA), the National Medical School Professors’ Emergency Response Committee (NMREC), and the Korean Association of Medical Schools (KAMC) held a press conference that day and requested, “In order to relieve the people’s worries and anxiety, the government must stop its lack of communication and show forward-looking changes.” The groups took issue with the part where Prime Minister Han Duck-soo answered a question at the National Assembly the day before, “Who is most responsible for the current medical situation?” by saying, “(Residents) bear the first responsibility.” They said, “We cannot help but be astonished at the Prime Minister’s attitude of speaking carelessly to residents and completely distorting reality,” and “Residents and medical students who are frustrated by the government’s oppressive increase in medical schools are appealing to the government to stop this wrong policy as they give up their training and studies.”
When asked by reporters whether the government’s change in attitude is an apology or expression of regret for the unreasonable policy of increasing medical school enrollment in 2025, Choi Anna, the spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association, answered, “Yes. The government has no awareness of the situation caused by the unreasonable policy, and in this situation, it is difficult to participate in the consultative body to have a conversation.” They also requested that the government stop investigating interns and residents.
The ruling party is planning to continue persuading the medical community without a deadline. Representative Han met with reporters that day and said, “I don’t think setting a time limit in advance will be of much help in launching the bipartisan parliamentary consultative body,” and added, “We are communicating directly with major medical organizations. I know they must have many concerns, but I understand that they are making various preparations for a decision.” Chief Spokesperson Han Ji-ah stated immediately after the press conference with the medical association, “We need dialogue to untangle the complicated tangled threads, and I remain steadfast in my belief that the bipartisan parliamentary consultative body should be the channel for that.” Chief Spokesperson Han also met with reporters and said, “We also strongly spoke to the government about the issue of continuing to summon and investigate medical residents. There will be no more.”
The Democratic Party of Korea pressured the medical associations’ declaration of non-participation, saying, “It is now time for the government to make a decision.” In a phone call that day, Democratic Party spokesperson Hwang Jeong-ah said, “The medical community has passed the ball to the government,” and “The government is responsible for the medical crisis. The government must change its attitude, including in the quota for medical schools in 2025.” A party leadership official said in a phone call, “In a situation where medical associations are not participating, why would the opposition party be a ‘sidekick’ (by joining the consultative body)?”
Reporter Kwon Gu-yong [email protected]
Reporter Jo Yu-ra [email protected]
Reporter Lee Ji-woon [email protected]
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2024-09-14 07:15:48