Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Gov't urges doctors to become partners for medical reform
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a press briefing at the Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Kwak Yeon-soo
PM denies emergency medical system is near collapse
The government has once again urged the medical community to engage in dialogue and participate in a consultative body to address the ongoing medical crisis, which stemmed from a dispute over the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s plan to increase medical school quotas.
In a nationally televised briefing on Thursday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged doctors' groups to join a four-way discussion body that includes the government, as well as ruling and opposition parties. He emphasized that within this framework, doctors would have the opportunity to share their opinions on necessary improvements to achieve medical reform.
“If the medical community presents a scientific and reasonable plan on the medical school quota hike plan and other relevant policies, the government is ready to discuss it with an open-minded attitude,” Han said.
"We are waiting for the medical circle to resolve misunderstandings (about government policies) and become a partner for medical reform."
However, the government said that the increased admissions quota for 2025 is irreversible as universities have already begun accepting applications for medical schools.
“Since students have already begun applying and the admission rate is already high, it’s hard to change the admission guideline for 2025. However, we are open to discussing the option of postponing the quota hike planned for 2026,” Han said.
He dismissed media reports and patients' claims that the emergency medical system is on the verge of collapse, stating that approximately 8,000 medical clinics and hospitals will be open nationwide daily during the Chuseok holiday. This figure is more than double the 3,600 clinics and hospitals that were open during the Lunar New Year holiday in February, according to Han.
“I would be lying if I said our health care system isn’t in crisis. Many of the remaining medical professionals are complaining of fatigue. However, we are not in a situation where we have to worry about medical collapse,” Han said.
To better reward hospitals and medical professionals for their services, the government will temporarily raise the fees that doctors receive from health insurance around the Chuseok holiday. Consultation fees for specialists at regional emergency medical centers, which handle critical emergency cases, will be raised to 3.5 times the usual rate.
Ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Han Dong-hoon, left, speaks at a high-level party-government meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the government vowed to take stern action against those responsible for drawing up and circulating a so-called “blacklist” of emergency room doctors, calling it an “inexcusable crime.”
The blacklist reportedly includes personal information and malicious comments about emergency room doctors who chose to treat patients instead of joining their colleagues by leaving their jobs since February to protest the government's increase in medical school admissions quotas.
“We won’t tolerate insults to the medical professionals who have decided to return to emergency rooms and look after patients. We will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts,” Han said.
Han later met with ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Han Dong-hoon at a high-level party-government meeting to discuss ways to facilitate the launch of the four-way consultative body.
The PPP chief reiterated his position that the consultative body should be established before the Chuseok holiday and encouraged as many doctors' groups as possible to join.
"As I mentioned before, there are no restrictions on the agenda as long as stakeholders are willing to engage in dialogue. We can keep the door open and allow more doctors' groups to participate," Han said.
The prime minister echoed the view, saying, “The longer we delay the reform, the higher the cost. The government is eagerly waiting for trainee doctors to resolve misunderstandings and return to duty.”