National University Hospital Association Voices Concern Over Official Transfer Amid Budget and Staffing Shortages

Lee Jaemyung Administration's Amendment to the National University Hospital Establishment Act
Legal and Institutional Shortcomings, Shortage of Essential Medical Personnel
No Concrete Plans for Strengthening Regional Healthcare After Administrative Transfer

Nine regional national university hospitals have expressed concerns about the passage of the National University Hospital Establishment Act amendment by the Lee Jaemyung administration, citing legal and institutional shortcomings as well as a shortage of essential medical personnel.

On the 28th, nine regional national university hospitals, including Chonnam National University Hospital, issued an emergency statement, saying, "We express our strong regret and concern over the passage of the National University Hospital Establishment Act amendment, which was pushed through just 74 days after the Cabinet meeting on national policy tasks, and the plan to proceed with the transfer within this year."

They stated, "There are three main reasons for opposing the transfer within this year and for the preconditions that must be addressed before the transfer: legal and institutional shortcomings, policy deficiencies, and a lack of essential medical personnel and resources." They pointed out, "The amendment passed by the National Assembly's Education Committee's Legislative Review Subcommittee is essentially a 'one-point' revision that simply moves the affiliated ministry to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. However, the key details about what national university hospitals should do and how they should contribute to strengthening essential regional healthcare, which is a national policy task, are missing."

They also emphasized, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare's comprehensive plans and roadmaps to raise the treatment capacity of national university hospitals to the level of the 'Big 5' hospitals, as revealed in recent National Assembly audits, are insufficient. National university hospitals cannot release a comprehensive plan because the ministry has not yet reached policy and budget agreements with other ministries."

They continued, "The shortage of essential personnel and resources needed to strengthen regional essential healthcare is extremely serious, due to the outflow of residents and other staff caused by the medical crisis and the accumulation of deficits. The Ministry of Health and Welfare should focus more actively on securing essential medical personnel and resources rather than merely transferring administrative oversight."

Jo Kanghee, Director of Chungnam National University Hospital and a member of the Regional Essential Healthcare Strengthening Task Force under the National University Hospital Association, said, "The medical staff and employees of national university hospitals are partners in achieving national policy goals and are key players in regional essential healthcare. I earnestly appeal once again for the government to provide time and space for deliberation, so that the nine regional national university hospitals can take on greater responsibility and fulfill their roles more effectively by engaging in discussions and consultations to find the best possible solutions."

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