KMA "Government Must Accept Residents and Medical Students' Demands"

"Supporting Whatever Residents and Medical Students Want"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has urged the government to accept the demands of residents and medical students.

Im Hyuntaek, President of the Korean Medical Association, is speaking at a press conference held at 2 p.m. on the 15th at the KMA Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Choi Taewon peaceful1@

The KMA held a press conference at 2 p.m. on the 15th at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, announcing this. Im Hyun-taek, president of the KMA, said, "The government must correct the situation according to what the residents and medical students want, even now."

Concerns were also raised that not imposing 'regional restrictions' in the recruitment of residents in the second half of the year would undermine regional healthcare and essential medical services. Regional restrictions mean that residents can only apply to training hospitals within the same region as their current training hospital. Previously, training hospital directors requested regional restrictions, saying, "If residents from local hospitals move to the metropolitan area, there could be a greater gap in regional healthcare," but the government has not yet accepted this.

In response, President Im criticized, "The government's policy is to maximize the return rate of residents this second half of the year and fill residents only in the Big 5 hospitals, ignoring regional healthcare and life-saving medical services," adding, "They are thoroughly destroying regional healthcare and completely undermining the national medical infrastructure."

He continued, "Trying to implement medical reform and educational reform without listening to residents and students is like building a building without a blueprint or foundation work, and ignoring the advice of those who have actually built buildings," and said, "I hope the government keeps in mind that fully accepting the intentions of residents and students is the way to resolve this situation, even now."

The intentions of the residents mentioned by President Im refer to the seven demands announced by the Korean Intern Resident Association in February. The demands include ▲ complete cancellation of the medical school expansion plan and essential medical policy package ▲ establishment of a scientific physician supply and demand forecasting organization ▲ expansion of specialist recruitment at training hospitals ▲ legal burden relief for unavoidable medical accidents ▲ improvement of resident training environments ▲ complete withdrawal of unfair orders to residents ▲ complete abolition of work commencement orders.

Additionally, President Im acknowledged that criticism from residents toward him is natural and pledged to respond more sincerely in the future. He said, "It is only natural to be criticized because I have not shown them a sufficiently satisfactory attitude," and added, "There have certainly been some trial and error. If they express their wishes, the KMA will support them in any way and approach the matter with a much more sincere attitude than now."

Meanwhile, the KMA stated that reports in some media claiming that the 'Special Committee for Proper Medical Care (Olteukwi),' a consultative body of the entire medical community, has been suspended are incorrect, explaining that the committee took a one-week recess due to scheduling conflicts of many members and that normal meetings will resume from the 20th. Discussions and announcements regarding the future direction of Olteukwi are scheduled to take place at the regular meeting held that day.

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