Handuksoo: "President Yoon Strongly Wishes to Talk with Medical Residents"

Promoting Dialogue Without Restrictions on Time, Place, or Topic
Medical Reform Special Committee to Include Patients
Apologizes Deeply for High Prices

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo [Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on the 2nd, "President Yoon Seok-yeol has a strong willingness to genuinely communicate with residents without restricting the time, place, or topic."

Prime Minister Han appeared on KBS 'News 9' that afternoon and stated, "I understand that there have been contacts for dialogue."

He said, "Residents are extremely valuable national assets who have come to specialize in essential medical care," and emphasized, "I hope that the parents, professors, and everyone around the residents will persuade and encourage them so that a dialogue for the people and patients can definitely take place."

He continued, "Although conversations have been exchanged through informal consultative bodies, serious dialogue has not yet begun," and explained, "The government proposed an increase in medical school admissions based on scientific and academic review, but the medical community has hardly expressed opinions on the increase so far."

He added, "If the medical community presents scientific and rational measures, the president is strongly willing to engage in dialogue without restrictions on topic, time, or place," and reiterated, "I hope the medical community will make such efforts as well."

Regarding the Presidential Medical Reform Special Committee, which will be launched at President Yoon’s proposal, Prime Minister Han said it will be composed not only of the government and the medical community but also consumers, experts, and patients.

He said, "Medical reform involves many issues and there is so much to do," and added, "I believe that true medical reform will not be possible unless the opinions of consumers, experts, and patients receiving treatment are also discussed along with those of the government and the medical community."

Prime Minister Han explained that the budget for medical reform will be concentrated starting next year.

He said, "Changing the training environment for residents, developing regional medical care, ensuring sufficient personnel for essential medical care, and equipping medical institutions with substantial facilities and equipment for education will require a great deal of funding," and emphasized, "Until now, funding has been procured from the private sector or supported through health insurance, but going forward, we will raise the level of medical support to that of national defense or public security."

Prime Minister Han added, "President Yoon instructed the Minister of Strategy and Finance to fully reflect the budget necessary for medical reform starting next year and report on it."

Regarding high prices, Prime Minister Han bowed his head and said, "We sincerely apologize as prices in the agricultural and food sectors have not yet stabilized."

He said, "The government has spent about 150 billion won on discounts and support measures so far, but it seems insufficient," and added, "The president instructed at today’s Cabinet meeting to actively expand the fund to stabilize prices of agricultural and livestock products indefinitely."

He continued, "The voucher system that has supported vulnerable groups until now will also be greatly expanded, and the target and scope will be increased," and explained, "This summer, we will thoroughly manage fruit so that it is not affected by (climate) factors and stabilize prices."

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