Handuksoo's National Address "People's Lives and Health Must Not Be Held Hostage... Will Complete Medical Reform"

Prime Minister's Public Address on Medical Sector Collective Action
"Desperate Heart... Cannot Hold 국민 생명·건강 Hostage"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is stepping onto the podium on the afternoon of the 18th at the Government Seoul Office Building to deliver a public address regarding the necessity of increasing medical school quotas and the collective actions of doctors.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo emphasized that the collective action taken by medical professionals opposing the government's plan to increase medical school quotas is "an unacceptable act that holds the lives and health of the people hostage," and stated, "the government will steadfastly carry out medical reform."

On this day, at the Government Seoul Office, Prime Minister Han delivered a public address regarding the doctors' collective action, saying, "I stand here today with a truly urgent heart to convey the government's position on medical reform."

He pointed out, "Some in the medical community are opposing the expansion of medical school quotas and are discussing collective action, medical students have resolved to go on a solidarity leave of absence, and some residents have submitted their resignations, creating a chaotic situation," adding, "If these movements lead to actual actions causing a medical vacuum, the damage will directly affect the public."

In his statement, he reiterated that the expansion of medical school quotas is an issue that cannot be delayed any longer.

Prime Minister Han said, "Medical reform cannot succeed unless an absolute number of doctors is secured," and continued,

"Compared to the increasing elderly population and rising medical demand, the current medical school quotas are grossly insufficient. If this situation continues, it is expected that by 2035 there will be a shortage of 15,000 doctors."

He explained, "Considering the time required to train specialists, the expansion of medical school quotas can no longer be postponed," and added, "It is not only the patients who are aging, but doctors are also rapidly aging, making this even more urgent."

However, Prime Minister Han emphasized that the government will not only increase the number of medical school quotas but also ensure the quality of education.

He stated, "The increase of 2,000 students is not a decision made unilaterally by the government but the result of careful discussion and verification with the country's top experts and universities," and added, "Many medical schools currently have the capacity to educate more students while adhering to existing educational conditions and standards. There is also room for supplementation through a two-year pre-medical course."

Prime Minister Han also pledged to steadily implement the '4 Major Essential Medical Policy Package' to enable doctors to work in better environments.

He said, "We will improve the working conditions of residents to prevent burnout in medical settings, revitalize local hospitals and secure essential doctors to revive regional healthcare," and added, "We will expand investments in regional healthcare systems such as customized regional fees, and implement expanded regional talent recruitment and contract-based regional essential doctor systems to help talents settle in local areas."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is entering the briefing room at the Government Seoul Office on the afternoon of the 18th to deliver a public address regarding the necessity of increasing medical school quotas and the collective actions of doctors.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In particular, he mentioned the enactment of the 'Medical Accident Handling Special Act' to create an environment where doctors can provide care without excessive fear of criminal punishment. He emphasized that more than 10 trillion won will be invested by 2028 to raise essential medical fees, while also expanding the public policy fee system to provide additional compensation.

Prime Minister Han said, "We are also preparing an alternative payment system that compensates deficits after the fact to maintain hospitals' critical and essential infrastructure," and added, "We will boldly and intensively support this in a groundbreaking way never attempted before."

He urged the medical community to narrow differences through rational discussion and dialogue rather than collective action.

He appealed to residents working on the front lines of medical care, saying, "I earnestly ask you to please stay by the side of medical sites and patients." To the public worried about potential collective action in medical settings, he emphasized, "We will thoroughly prepare and respond swiftly to protect the precious lives of the people."

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