Yoon: "'Emergency Room Spin', 'Pediatric Open Run' Are Not Signs of a Good Country... Securing Medical Personnel"

The Eighth Public Discussion Forum Held
Expansion of Medical Workforce and Strengthening of Regional Healthcare

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People - Eighth Session, Medical Reform to Save Lives and Communities" held at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 1st, shaking hands with attendees.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government will actively work to expand medical personnel and strengthen regional healthcare to resolve difficulties caused by the collapse of regional and essential medical services, such as the 'pediatric open run' and 'emergency room roundabout.' It unveiled a package of four major policies, including establishing a safety net for medical accidents and revising the compensation system, and decided to set up a 'Medical Reform Special Committee' directly under the President to prepare detailed plans.

On the 1st, President Yoon Seok-yeol held the eighth public discussion forum themed "Medical Reform to Save Lives and Regions" at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and announced these measures. The Presidential Office explained that this forum was organized to listen to the vivid voices of citizens and medical staff struggling with the collapse of regional and essential medical services and to discuss fundamental solutions.

Before attending the public discussion forum, President Yoon visited the 'SMART Simulation Center' for clinical practice within the hospital and observed surgical practice by residents. At this occasion, the President emphasized the importance of nurturing excellent medical personnel to strengthen regional and essential medical services and pledged to spare no support to enhance the quality of medical education and residency training, including advanced practical training, to cultivate outstanding doctors.

In his opening remarks at the public discussion forum, President Yoon said, "It is regrettable that despite having world-class medical personnel capabilities and a health insurance system, our country faces the reality of worrying about the collapse of the medical system." He added, "Since promising the 'Bold Medical Reform' to the public last October, we have meticulously prepared the 'Four Major Policy Package' announced today as an implementation plan."

President Yoon first stated that to respond to the rapidly increasing elderly population and healthcare industry demand, sufficient medical personnel will be secured, and quality medical education and training environments will be established to support this. He also said that the medical accident-related system will be comprehensively improved so that doctors can provide care with confidence and victims can receive ample compensation. Furthermore, he promised to establish a fair compensation system to ensure that essential medical staff performing high-risk treatments receive appropriate rewards.

President Yoon emphasized, "Revitalizing regional healthcare is a core element of balanced regional development along with education," and pledged to steadily promote the expansion of regional talent recruitment, regional policy fees, and the establishment of regional medical networks to fundamentally revitalize regional healthcare and open an era where living anywhere in the provinces is desirable.

He continued, "I feel a heavy responsibility to expedite medical reform," urging the Ministry of Health and Welfare and related ministries to cooperate and complete the reform with the determination to take responsibility for the health and lives of the people.

About 60 citizens, including patients, caregivers, hospital directors, doctors, nurses, and experts, attended today's forum. From the government, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong, First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Ki-il, Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Education Oh Seok-hwan, and Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission Kim So-young participated. From the Presidential Office, Chief Secretary Lee Gwan-seop, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, and Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon attended.

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