Medical Community Prepares Unified Proposal for Government and National Assembly Talks... Strike Remains Unchanged

Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, is responding to reporters' questions while moving to attend the 3rd meeting of the Special Committee for the Fight Against the Four Major Evils in the Medical Community, held at the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The medical community, which has been in conflict with the government over healthcare policy, has prepared a unified proposal on the 3rd to negotiate not only with the government but also with the National Assembly. Although it does not immediately call off the collective strike centered on residents, attention is focused on whether this will resolve the long-standing confrontation.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) held a meeting of the Special Committee for the Fight Against the Four Evils of the Medical Community together with resident and fellow organizations on the same day and approved a unified medical community proposal ahead of discussions with the government and the National Assembly. A KMA official said, "We reflected the demands of young doctors (residents and fellows) who are actively participating in the struggle," adding, "We will start talks with the government and the National Assembly as soon as possible."

The medical community has called for the withdrawal of what they term the "four evil policies": the expansion of medical school quotas, the establishment of public medical schools, the pilot project for herbal medicine coverage, and the promotion of telemedicine, all of which the government has been pushing. The government has countered by stating that it does not have the authority to withdraw some of these policies or that they will be reconsidered. During this process, residents began collective action. As essential areas such as emergency rooms and intensive care units also went on strike, medical services were disrupted, and the government responded with on-site investigations and legal actions, leading to a standoff.

Subsequently, Han Jeong-ae, chair of the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly and Democratic Party Policy Committee Chair, met directly with KMA President Choi Dae-jip and indicated the party's position that "reconsideration of the original plan" is possible. After internal discussions within the medical community, the unified proposal was finalized on this day. Specific details have not yet been disclosed. It is expected that the contents decided on this day will be circulated internally within the medical community and negotiations with the government and ruling party will begin immediately.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the strike rate among residents at frontline training hospitals exceeds 80%. Fellows also account for about 30%. As young doctors, who make up a significant portion of frontline medical care, are absent, the workload on professors has increased, and although they are coping, it is reported to be difficult. Although a unified proposal reflecting the medical community's demands was prepared on this day, the KMA stated that the ongoing collective strike and the third general doctors' strike scheduled for the 7th are planned to proceed as scheduled for now.

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