Medical Community Focuses on Final Negotiation Proposal... 범투위 Ends Debate Starting at 1 PM

On the 3rd, the Korean Medical Association and the Young Doctors' Emergency Committee Move to Reach a Unified Agreement Proposal

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the collective strike of residents and fellows continues into its second week, the medical community will engage in final negotiations with the government and ruling party on the 3rd.

On the 3rd, the Young Doctors Emergency Committee, composed of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), and the Korean Medical Students Association, announced, "On the evening of the 2nd, the KMA executive board and the Young Doctors Emergency Committee began coordinating opinions on a unified agreement," adding, "On the afternoon of the 3rd, this matter will be submitted as an agenda item to the Special Committee for the Fight Against the Four Major Evils in the Medical Community (Beomtuwi)."

The Beomtuwi meeting will be held privately at 1 p.m. in the KMA conference room. Beomtuwi includes all medical professions such as professors, residents, fellows, private practitioners, and employed doctors, centered around the KMA. Based on discussions from the previous day’s meeting with the Young Doctors Emergency Committee, the KMA plans to work toward finalizing the negotiation proposal.

On the 2nd at 7 p.m., the KMA held a meeting with the Young Doctors Emergency Committee and began preparing a negotiation proposal for the government. This was intended to listen in advance to the voices of residents who are strongly opposing the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools and leading the medical community’s collective actions, and to coordinate positions. Currently, the Young Doctors Emergency Committee has unified its contact channel with the government through Beomtuwi.

The KMA stated, "Since there are various professions within the KMA, we will consult with them to prepare a negotiation proposal for the government," and added, "The process of coordinating each organization’s stance on the four major policies, including the expansion of medical school quotas, is expected to proceed."

The doctors’ strike, which had been worsening with collective resignations from residents and fellows, is showing signs of resolution due to the ruling party’s urgent intervention. On the 1st, Han Jeong-ae, the Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, stepped in as a mediator, stating that policy implementation could be discussed from a 'zero' state, and dialogue was initiated as President Moon Jae-in, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, and political figures from both ruling and opposition parties urged for talks.

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