Conflict Between Medical and Political Sectors Intensifies with Ruling Party Joining... Is a Dramatic Resolution in Sight?

Han Jeong-ae "Discussion on Zero State Possible... Let's Form a Special Committee and Consultative Body"
Choi Dae-jip "There Are Areas to Resolve with the Ruling Party... Will Discuss with the Medical Community"
"Let's Resolve Conflicts" Consensus Reached but Differences Remain on Methodology

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, is moving to hold an emergency press conference on the morning of the 28th in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency regarding the report against residents violating the Ministry of Health and Welfare's order to commence work.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] "The problem lies in the legislative process, so I suggested we discuss it with an open mind and that we can have discussions starting from a completely 'zero' state." (Han Jeong-ae, Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea)

"There are issues that need to be resolved together with the government, and among the critically important parts, there are issues that must be resolved together with the ruling party. (Omitted) We discussed how sincerely and proactively we can talk about policy withdrawal and re-examination from the beginning." (Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korea Medical Association, after a closed-door meeting on the 1st)

As conflicts between the medical community and the government over healthcare policies show no signs of subsiding, attention is focused on whether the ruling party’s direct involvement can untangle the complicated knot. Since some of the policies opposed by the medical community require legislative procedures, the ruling party is also considered a recent source of conflict. Given that the controversial policies need to be addressed on various levels, it is expected that dividing discussions by each policy could help narrow differences in opinions.

During the closed-door meeting on the 1st between Chair Han and President Choi, discussions were held on how to resolve the resident doctors’ collective action (mass strike) situation. Chair Han told reporters that during the meeting, she conveyed to President Choi that various policies could be re-discussed from scratch and explained the possibility of forming a special committee or consultative body at the National Assembly level.

Han Jeong-ae, the newly appointed Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 1st.

She said, "Strengthening essential medical services and expanding public healthcare are issues that should be resolved legislatively, so it is more appropriate to discuss them with the National Assembly or the party rather than the government," adding, "President Choi agreed and judged that it is proper to go through the legislative consultation process, so he said he would discuss it with groups within the Medical Association and then provide feedback."

President Choi said, "There are quite a few complex issues," but added, "We discussed how sincerely and proactively we can talk about withdrawing policies such as increasing medical school quotas, the regional doctor system, and establishing new public medical schools, and re-examining them from the beginning."

Given the complexity of the issues and the various stakeholders involved, it seems there were limits to narrowing differences in opinions during the brief meeting. However, regarding the proposal to form a separate consultative body, President Choi also said he would discuss it within the medical community, leaving a clue for future problem-solving. The fact that the medical community does not outright oppose discussing controversial policies individually rather than all at once is also interpreted as a possibility for narrowing differences in the future.

The expansion of medical school quotas and the regional doctor system were also discussed between the government, led by the Blue House, and the ruling party. Since the ruling party appears to be stepping back by declaring a re-examination of the original plan, attention is focused on how the medical community will respond. However, in some cases such as the inclusion of herbal medicine decoctions in insurance coverage, the medical community demands complete withdrawal. Since this was decided by a legally binding consultative body (the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee) and involves the Korean Medicine community, it is expected to be difficult to narrow differences in opinions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.