Leading presidential candidates offer differing healthcare pledges

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, left, and main opposition People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-yeol / Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

With about 60 days left until the March 9 presidential election, the campaign pledges on healthcare and pandemic response measures introduced by the leading candidates are drawing significant attention, as the country enters its third year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the two major presidential candidates ― Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ― have both pledged to eradicate the pandemic, they have proposed differing policies for handling the public health crisis.

Lee has vowed to strengthen the public healthcare system in order to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and prepare for future crises.

He laid out his plans on Dec. 31 to expand access to public healthcare services across the country, saying that his administration will guarantee every resident equal access to medical treatment.

To bridge the gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and the provinces in accessing medical services, Lee promised to add at least 70 more state-funded hospitals in rural areas and to increase the number of doctors by raising the admissions quota for medical schools, as well as by establishing new public medical schools.

But these plans are expected to face a heavy backlash from doctors' groups, which previously opposed the Moon Jae-in administration's medical reform proposal announced in August 2020 that also included a medical school quota increase and the establishment of new public health medical schools.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) issued a statement, Tuesday, expressing regret over Lee's campaign pledges, which they argue "run counter to the agreement signed with the government in September 2020."

At that time, following weeks of protests from medical students and doctors on the proposed medical reform plans, the government had to take a step back, with the two sides agreeing to postpone further discussion until the stabilization of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, center, announces his election pledges on healthcare at the party's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Dec. 31. Yonhap

Another thorny issue on which Lee stands far from the doctors' group is the mandatory installation of surveillance cameras (CCTV) in operating rooms.

After the controversial bill on requiring the installation of CCTVs in operating rooms was approved by the National Assembly last September, the details of the bill are expected to be discussed in the new administration.

The former Gyeonggi Province governor, who supports the installation of the cameras, had ordered six public hospitals run by the provincial government to be equipped with CCTVs during his term.

Other healthcare pledges introduced by Lee, such as including hair loss treatment coverage in the national health insurance program and offering free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to all teenagers aged between 12 to17, have drawn positive public responses.

Meanwhile, Yoon of the PPP has proposed a different direction for handling the government's COVID-19 response.

If elected, he vowed to overhaul current COVID-19 response strategies and enact quarantine policies only based on scientific data, criticizing the incumbent administration for carrying out "political quarantine measures."

He also denounced the government's top-down decision making process, stressing that his administration will increase communication with frontline COVID-19 medical workers.

"Public health officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare should involve more external medical experts, COVID-19 patients and their families when making decisions on coronavirus-related measures," he said during a meeting with KMA officials, Dec. 16.

"Implementation of unilateral social distancing measures will not bring the virus situation under control. If I am elected, I will set up a platform on pandemic response measures and make decisions based on scientific data and carry them out through cooperation with experts."

In addition, Yoon plans to increase support for the telemedicine industry by improving regulations that may hinder the growth of startup companies in the medical sector.

Telemedicine companies, which have been enjoying a contactless boom after the government provisionally permitted their services in the middle of the public health crisis, have been calling for the establishment of legal grounds for a stable business environment even after the pandemic ends.

During a meeting with startup companies in early December, Yoon said, "I will make sure that all people can benefit from the innovative healthcare services, while minimizing conflicts of interest between doctors and telemedicine service providers."

Main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a meeting with officials from the Korean Medical Association at the association's office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Dec.16. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun