Dramatic Confrontation in Medical Policy Talks, Only Differences Confirmed

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo (left in the photo) and Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, are taking a commemorative photo before the medical policy meeting held on the 19th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government and medical associations, which have been at odds over the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools, met on the 19th to discuss but failed to find any significant agreement. The scheduled second strike by residents and the three-day general strike by doctors are expected to proceed as planned. However, with the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the dialogue was dramatically reopened, leaving room for future consultations to narrow differences.

Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo, along with government officials, and medical association leaders including Daehan Medical Association President Choi Dae-jip and Korean Intern Resident Association President Park Ji-hyun held a meeting at a hotel in Seoul to exchange views on recent issues. Initially, there was strong opposition from medical associations to the government’s medical policies, leading to a residents’ strike on the 7th and a collective work stoppage by the medical association on the 14th. Recently, as COVID-19 cases surged mainly in the metropolitan area, the medical association proposed dialogue with the government, which responded positively, resulting in this meeting.

The medical community, centered on the Medical Association, clearly stated that they would only enter negotiations after the government withdraws its plans to expand medical school quotas, establish public medical schools, and abolish coverage for herbal medicine prescriptions. They also said that only then could they jointly respond to recent situations such as COVID-19. On the other hand, the government maintained its position that withdrawing these policies is impossible.

After the meeting, Minister Park Neung-hoo said, "There were differences in opinions," adding, "The government suggested keeping all options open, while the medical community demanded the withdrawal of all policies, so there was a gap in views." The Medical Association also issued a press release after the meeting, stating, "Despite two hours of discussion, only the differences in positions were confirmed," and criticized the Ministry of Health and Welfare for "bringing the premise that policy withdrawal is impossible into the meeting, which is regrettable."

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