KMA: "Government Demonizes Doctors... Medical Catastrophe Awaits"

The Korean Medical Association warned that the government is "demonizing doctors" and stated, "If actions based on free medical practice are punished, an irreversible medical catastrophe will occur."

Seoul Yongsan-gu Korean Medical Association. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

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The KMA Emergency Response Committee issued a statement on the 18th regarding Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's 'Public Address on the Doctors' Collective Action,' evaluating it as "merely an excuse to suppress doctors' autonomous actions." Earlier that day, Prime Minister Han announced a public address stating, "Medical reform to revive essential and regional healthcare is an urgent task that can no longer be delayed," and emphasized, "Without securing an absolute number of doctors, medical reform can never succeed." This reaffirmed the existing policy direction of increasing medical school quotas and implementing essential medical policy packages.

In response, the KMA Emergency Response Committee expressed strong regret, saying, "It is holding patients and the public hostage to transform Korea's healthcare into a Cuban-style socialist medical system." Regarding such public addresses, they added, "It is merely an attempt to frame the voluntary and personal actions of residents and medical students as collective action and to build a justification for punishment," emphasizing, "If actions based on free medical practice are punished, an irreversible medical catastrophe will occur."

Finally, the Emergency Response Committee stated, "If the government truly values the lives of the Korean people and patients and intends to reform Korea's healthcare system in a normal direction, it must immediately abandon the increase in medical school quotas and the essential medical policy package and begin sincere dialogue with the medical community."

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