Presidential Office: "Government Responsible for Deciding Supply and Demand of Healthcare Workforce" (Comprehensive)

"Opinions Can Be Heard but Not Negotiable"
Questioning the Representation of Medical Community Organizations

Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on the first designation of pilot areas for the Education Development Special Zone at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 28th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 28th, the Presidential Office stated regarding the medical community's proposal to reduce the government's plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000, "The issue of manpower supply and demand in health care is a matter for which the government is constitutionally and legally responsible to decide." This was in response to the nationwide group of deans from 40 medical schools proposing an increase of 350 students, a scale that universities can accommodate, emphasizing that the decision lies with the government.

A senior official from the Presidential Office said to reporters that day, "While we can hear opinions based on projections of future medical workforce demand and supply to determine exactly how many are needed, the responsibility for the decision lies with the state, and it is not a matter for negotiation with the respective professions." Given that the number of doctors in Korea is far below the OECD average, this is interpreted as the government’s intention to maintain the proposed increase of 2,000 medical students.

The government also raised doubts about the representativeness of the medical organizations sitting at the negotiation table regarding the increase in medical school admissions. A Presidential Office official explained, "The Medical Association claims to represent the medical community, but when we contact them and listen, it is somewhat difficult for the Association to have true representativeness," adding, "We have continuously requested that members with representativeness within the medical community come together and propose a consensus, but so far, we have not received any visible agreement."

In particular, the government conveyed that it is facing difficulties even in creating an open and frank dialogue platform regarding the increase in medical school admissions. The Presidential Office official lamented, "There are different perspectives among large hospitals, small and medium hospitals, residents, medical students, and medical professors," and added, "For government dialogue to be effective, it must be with an organization or members who have representativeness, but it is very difficult to achieve this through individual contacts."

The official pointed out that Chungbuk Province ranks first among 17 cities and provinces nationwide in birthrate, yet due to a shortage of obstetricians, it has the highest neonatal mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, and treatable mortality rate in the country, stating, "The reality is that even if we try to find doctors, we cannot." The official also cited the example that although Chungbuk is trying to foster the bio-health industry, it faces limitations as there are almost no medical scientists with clinical experience available.

The aging of doctors themselves was also cited as a reason increasing the need for expanding medical school admissions. The Presidential Office official said, "According to population projections, the proportion of doctors in their 70s will increase from 6.8% in 2022 to 20% in 2035," emphasizing, "Considering this comprehensively, the number deemed most necessary to address supply and demand issues is 2,000."

Regarding the government's announcement the previous day of the 'Medical Accident Handling Special Act,' which limits prosecution of medical accidents on the condition of insurance and mutual aid subscription, the official said, "We expect that residents will be hopeful about this special act and think that institutional improvements are being made."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is making closing remarks at the 6th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House's Yeongbingwan on the 27th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The government maintained its existing stance that it will handle the situation according to law and principles as the deadline for residents who left hospitals to return is only one day away on the 29th. It warned that if residents do not comply, it will proceed with license suspension and investigations.

Another Presidential Office official emphasized, "We have requested that residents return by the 29th, which is a business day," adding, "Doctors must return to the side of their patients."

The day before, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated at the 6th Central-Local Cooperation Council, "Engaging in collective actions that hold the public hostage and threaten the lives and safety of the people cannot be justified under any pretext," and firmly declared, "Medical reform is not subject to negotiation or compromise."

President Yoon also raised the tone regarding his determination to push forward medical reform. Citing Article 36, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution, which stipulates the state's duty to protect public health, he reiterated that medical reform will proceed as planned. "The state has the duty to ensure that all citizens can receive essential medical services and enjoy fair medical service opportunities anywhere in the country," he said, emphasizing, "Increasing medical school admissions by 2,000 is the minimum essential measure to fulfill the state's constitutional duty."

Although the government set the final deadline for residents' return as the 29th, with no response from the medical community, legal actions are expected to intensify. Applications for medical school increases from all medical schools nationwide will also be accepted as scheduled until March 4. The government has completed legal reviews for judicial processing of those who do not return by the 29th. This means that steps such as 'license suspension' and investigations will follow.

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