Democrats and KMA "Reach Agreement" vs Residents "Oppose"... Confusion in Medical Community

Young Doctors' Emergency Committee "No Agreement Yet"... Ruling Party "Late Passing Controversy Is Difficult"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] On the 4th, although the government ruling party and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) reached a dramatic agreement to call off the medical strike, aftershocks continue. This is because the Emergency Response Committee of Young Doctors, including the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), which was the main force behind the strike, is opposing the agreement between the ruling party and the KMA.

The KMA and the ruling party held a signing ceremony for the final agreement on five clauses that day and tentatively prepared five agreements stating that policies such as expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools would be reconsidered from scratch. However, as this fact was reported in the media, the Young Doctors Emergency Response Committee immediately opposed it. Through an urgent notice, the committee stated, "The government's announcement is not true," and added, "The agreement is ongoing, but it is not finalized. The strike and collective action will continue," causing confusion throughout the morning. The committee explained, "First, the KMA reached an agreement with the Democratic Party and the government, and at the moment when final approval from KIRA was awaited, the Democratic Party's announcement came out first," adding, "The final decision on the agreement or the suspension of the strike has not yet been made." In this situation, the government and the KMA face the task of persuading the young doctors.

Separately from KIRA's opposition, the agreement that day focused on reflecting the opinions of young doctors, including residents who led the strike. The Young Doctors Emergency Response Committee, centered on KIRA, strongly opposed the expansion of medical school quotas and the establishment of public medical schools, urging the withdrawal and reconsideration of existing policies. They also consistently demanded that these be formalized in a written agreement rather than verbally. Reflecting these residents' opinions, the phrase "reconsider all possibilities from scratch" was included in the agreement. The ruling party responded by agreeing to form a consultative body after the stabilization of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation to reconsider all possibilities from scratch, focusing on legislation.

Until now, the government had stated it would "reconsider all possibilities," but maintained that formalizing this was difficult, leading to confrontation with the medical community. However, as the medical blank caused by the collective medical staff's leave during the COVID-19 crisis worsened, the ruling party promised a fundamental review and began to defuse the situation. On that day, KMA President Choi Dae-jip said, "Although it was late, I welcome the fact that doctors conveyed their opposition by carrying out the first and second nationwide doctors' strikes and then proceeded with discussions with the government and the National Assembly to produce an agreement," adding, "Although the phrase 'policy withdrawal' is not included in the agreement, I consider the fundamental review to be practically the same meaning and will do my best to ensure it is well implemented."

The Democratic Party agreed to prepare administrative and financial support measures necessary to improve the training environment for residents and working conditions for fellows through the enactment and revision of related laws such as the Special Act on Residents, based on KIRA's demands. In addition, the agreement included content to closely cooperate to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and to prepare and implement specific measures for protecting medical personnel and supporting medical institutions.

However, during the signing process of the agreement that day, the issue of the Young Doctors Emergency Response Committee being 'passed over' emerged, which is expected to become a future flashpoint. In response, a ruling party official said, "Currently, the Young Doctors Emergency Response Committee has unified its contact channel with the government as the 'Special Committee for Fighting the Four Major Evils of the Medical Community (Beomtu-wi)' and collected opinions, so the KMA made the announcement," adding, "In this situation, it is difficult to accept the committee's late objection to being passed over."

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