Seoul Medical Association Holds Meeting on Medical Issues with National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee Chair Park Jumin

Discussion on Key Issues Including Specimen Consignment and Generic Name Prescriptions

Hwang Kyuseok, President of the Seoul Medical Association, announced on the 23rd that he held a meeting on current medical issues with Park Jumin, Chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, on the 22nd.

Hwang Kyuseok, president of the Seoul Medical Association (right), and Park Jumin, chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee (left), are taking a commemorative photo after holding a meeting on current medical issues on the 22nd. Seoul Medical Association

According to the Seoul Medical Association, President Hwang and Chairperson Park discussed issues threatening the sustainability of primary care during the meeting, including the specimen consignment system, generic name prescriptions, and the proposed amendment to the Medical Service Act.

Regarding the specimen consignment issue, President Hwang stated, "Primary care institutions are facing severe financial pressure due to low fees," and requested, "Please promptly release the results of the research project conducted in 2023, along with operating a consultative body for future system improvements."

On the subject of the generic name prescription system, he expressed opposition, saying, "Forcing additional generic name prescriptions, when substitution is already legally guaranteed, threatens patient safety and undermines the foundation of the separation of prescribing and dispensing."

He particularly emphasized that pushing ahead with generic name prescriptions without first addressing the instability in the supply of pharmaceuticals cannot be a fundamental solution. He added that if the generic name prescription policy is enforced, the association may have no choice but to consider unavoidable responses, such as abolishing or making the separation of prescribing and dispensing optional.

He also expressed strong concerns about the proposed amendment to the Medical Service Act. President Hwang said, "The license revocation clause is a harmful law that restricts the freedom to practice not only for physicians but also for dentists, Korean medicine doctors, and nurses," and stressed, "A prompt revision is necessary."

In response, Chairperson Park said, "As someone who has witnessed the conflicts between the government and the medical community, I am well aware of the difficulties facing the medical sector," and added, "I will thoroughly review the matters based on the Seoul Medical Association President's explanation."

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