Kim Won Selected as 'Kyungsilryeon 2022 Outstanding Member of National Assembly Audit'

Data Analysis and Policy Completeness Highlighted in Addressing Essential and Public Healthcare Doctor Shortage Issues

[Mokpo=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Health and Welfare Committee, Mokpo City), was selected as an “Outstanding Member of the 2022 National Assembly Inspection” by the Economic Justice Practice Federation (hereinafter referred to as Kyeongsilryeon).

Kyeongsilryeon evaluated members of the National Assembly who presented in-depth inquiries and policy alternatives in 12 fields including financial consumer protection during this year’s National Assembly inspection, selecting a total of 11 outstanding members.

Kim Won-i was selected as an outstanding member in the public healthcare field. He was praised for highlighting the shortage of essential and public healthcare doctors and the reality of medical disparities between regions through various methods such as data analysis and surveys.

Furthermore, he pointed out the problems and limitations of the current local doctor expansion system and proposed a separate doctor training system as an alternative to handle essential and public healthcare in local areas, demonstrating a high level of policy completeness.

During the Health and Welfare Committee’s National Assembly inspection, Kim Won-i pointed out that some departments at Mokpo City Medical Center have been on long-term closure due to the inability to hire doctors. He questioned Minister Cho Kyu-hong about the implementation plan for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s national task of “establishing a regionally complete medical system.”

Kim said, “In the case of Jeonnam, even if they want to establish a regionally complete system, there is no medical school in the region to train medical personnel, so doctors have to be recruited from outside,” emphasizing once again the need to establish a medical school in the Jeonnam area.

Regarding this, Kim secured a promise from Minister Cho Kyu-hong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, who said, “The Ministry of Health and Welfare is not neglecting work under the pretext of medical consultations. Please trust us,” and “We will review various ways to promote this.”

Additionally, he received high evaluation for proposing institutional solutions to prevent rebates related to pharmaceuticals during the inspection. Kim pointed out that when the Fair Trade Commission detects rebates, companies providing money are penalized with fines, but medical personnel receiving the money are not punished. This contrasts with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which apply a “dual punishment system” where medical personnel are also penalized upon detection.

In response, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it has prepared guidelines to promptly notify the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety upon detecting rebates related to pharmaceuticals and to strengthen inter-agency cooperation.

Kim Won-i said, “Continuing from the first half of the 21st National Assembly, I am doing my best as a member of the Health and Welfare Committee in the second half to resolve medical disparities between regions,” and added, “I am honored to be selected as an outstanding member in the public healthcare field, and I will continue to promote the establishment of Mokpo Medical School and the local doctor system.”

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