Yoon: "Emergency medical system possible until all doctors return... Reform is essential"

"Dedicated Medical Staff and Medical Reform Will Definitely Succeed"
"Training Medical Professionals Takes 10-15 Years... Must Start Now"
"Lack of Emergency Room Doctors Is the Fundamental Problem"

President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized on the 29th, "The government will definitely carry out medical reform together with dedicated medical staff." Regarding growing concerns about a 'medical crisis' due to opposition and withdrawal from the medical community, he stated, "I believe it is possible to operate an emergency medical system until all the doctors who have left (the medical field) return."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is answering questions about medical reform during the 'National Briefing and Press Conference' held on the morning of the 29th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At a press conference held in the briefing room of the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, President Yoon said, "I have visited many regional general hospitals, specialized hospitals, and tertiary hospitals, and I have seen many doctors and nurses who are truly dedicated to their roles."

He added, "The plan to increase the number of doctors was not unilaterally decided by us; we have held 37 meetings to discuss the issues of increasing and training doctors with medical organizations," and said, "(The medical community) did not outright reject it from the beginning; they continued to attend meetings and showed some level of agreement."

He continued, "However, when we asked the medical community to provide estimates on how many additional personnel are needed, they have never submitted any," and emphasized, "Making essential medical care, critical care, and surgeries?which were previously avoided?more popular specialties among doctors is something our government can somewhat address during the remaining term, but training more medical personnel is a matter that takes at least 10 to 15 years, so we inevitably have to proceed now."

President Yoon pointed out, "There are many medical organizations, but no unified opinion has been reached," and said, "But we cannot wait until such an opinion is formed. We have repeatedly said we would review the issue of increasing doctors with an open mind, but (the medical community) is absolutely opposed. They are even saying to reduce the numbers further."

On the 29th, citizens are watching President Yoon Seok-yeol's national briefing in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

President Yoon said, "Through the reform process, the functional role-sharing among primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals is progressing very healthily," and explained, "Comprehensive hospitals based on medical schools focus on medical research, treatment of the most severe and rare diseases, while surgeries, emergency care, and basic critical essential care are handled by secondary regional general hospitals, and mild cases are managed at nearby clinics."

He added, "The fundamental problem is the shortage of emergency room doctors," and emphasized, "When I visit regional general hospitals and public hospitals in the provinces, there are almost no emergency medicine doctors. This is not a result of medical reform but has been the case from the beginning."

President Yoon said, "This is because their treatment conditions are poor," and stated, "While the fee-for-service rates need to be raised, in addition, policy-based fees must be established, but the government has not done this so far. Now is the time for the state to step up and take action."

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