Future of 4-way consultative body looks bleak
Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, visits an emergency room at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
A four-way consultative body comprising major political parties, the government and doctors' groups is unlikely to be launched before the Chuseok holiday, according to politicians and doctors, Wednesday, as key stakeholders failed to find a breakthrough in the conflict over President Yoon Suk Yeol's medical reform plan.
The Korean Medical Association (KMA), the country's largest group of doctors, has been insisting that it will not join the consultative body unless the government withdraws its plan to increase the medical school admissions quota for 2025.
Doctors also demanded Yoon issue an apology and dismiss both the minister and the deputy minister of health and welfare.
Both the ruling party and the presidential office said they will reconsider the option of postponing the quota increase planned for the 2026 academic year but not for next year because universities have already begun accepting admissions for medical schools.
"It's not feasible to retract the admissions quota hike plan for the 2025 academic year because it's going to create confusion among test-takers and their parents. But we can reconsider the option of postponing the quota increase planned for 2026. So I hope the medical community will join political parties to engage in discussions and offer suggestions of their own," PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho said.
PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon is set to hold a high-level party-government meeting at the National Assembly on Thursday to request support for establishing the consultative body. "We plan to ask the government to actively participate in establishing the consultative body," said Rep. Kim Sang-hoon, policy chief of the PPP. The same day, Han and doctors-turned-lawmakers of the PPP, such as Rep. Ihn Yo-han and Rep. Han Zee-a, will meet separately with the KMA officials to discuss pending issues.
The nation's medical system, particularly emergency services, has been suffering a staffing crisis for more than seven months after thousands of junior doctors walked off their jobs in response to the government's plan to increase the enrollment quota at medical schools by 2,000 for next year.
The KMA said that medical schools will not be able to handle the increased enrollment, which will compromise the quality of medical education and, ultimately, the country's health care system.
A medical staffer walks past a sign informing visitors that the emergency room will stay open during the Chuseok holiday at a hospital in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
With no signs of doctors returning anytime soon, the medical crisis is expected to have a profound impact on patients during the Chuseok holiday.
On Wednesday, the government designated a two-week emergency period that will last until Sept. 25 to ensure there are no disruptions in emergency medical care. It also decided to increase health insurance fees, such as consultation and prescription fees, temporarily before and after the Chuseok holiday to better reward hospitals and medical professionals for their services. Consultation fees for specialists at regional emergency medical centers, which handle critical emergency cases, will be raised to 3.5 times the usual rate.
The same day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced its plan to operate 1,200 hospitals and 1,300 pharmacies in Seoul over the Chuseok holiday. It vowed to inject 71 billion won ($52.82 million) to ensure emergency rooms and intensive care units are fully functional throughout the five-day weekend.
While the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) welcomes the idea of forming the four-way consultative body, it says that the government and the ruling party must resolve the medical crisis.
"President Yoon must take responsibility for the medical crisis and apologize to the public," said Rep. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the DPK, adding that the government should convince doctors' groups to engage in dialogue.
"Han should visit Yoon promptly and confirm if he is willing to solve the crisis," said Rep. Kim Min-seok, a Supreme Council member of the DPK.
Meanwhile, politicians have been flocking to hospital emergency rooms to soothe public concerns.
The PPP's Choo visited emergency rooms at Chung-Ang University Hospital, and party leader Han visited Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, to meet with medical staff, Wednesday.