Government to Support Essential Pediatric Medical Care with 1.3 Trillion KRW over 5 Years (Update)

The government has announced a plan to strengthen essential pediatric care by providing approximately 1.3 trillion won in support over five years. This measure aims to reinforce the pediatric critical care system and reduce the medical expenses burden on patients. The government criticized the collective action by doctors and reiterated its strong commitment to medical reform.

On the 14th, Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) responding to the doctors' collective action, presented the plan to strengthen essential pediatric care ahead of the meeting, stating, "Medical normalization is for the medical students who will lead the future medical community and the medical professors who are nurturing medical talents."

On the 11th, as collective actions by doctors, centered around residents, continue, a nurse is busy moving around at a secondary general hospital in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

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On the same day, Minister Lee expressed concern, saying, "The doctors' collective action, including the withdrawal of residents from their workplaces, has continued for four weeks," and "Recently, there are reports that medical professors are also discussing collective action by forming emergency committees, which is increasing public anxiety."

He emphasized public support by directly citing public opinion poll figures regarding the expansion of medical school quotas. Minister Lee explained, "According to a public opinion poll released by a media outlet this week, 89% of the public believe that expanding medical school quotas is necessary," and "58% of the public responded that the medical school quota should be increased by 2,000 or more." He then promised to thoroughly organize the medical system. Minister Lee pledged, "The government will prioritize the lives and health of the people above all else in any situation and fulfill its constitutional duty to protect them," and "We will also strengthen support for public medical institutions that bear the medical gaps caused by the withdrawal of residents."

On the same day, the government also announced its intention to discuss measures to strengthen essential pediatric care at the CDSCH. The core of the plan is to provide about 1.3 trillion won over the next five years to enhance pediatric critical care and reduce the hospitalization medical expenses burden for children under two years old. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that children do not face difficulties accessing hospitals during nights and holidays.

However, contrary to the government's appeal, the Association of Professors of Medical Schools Nationwide (Jeonui Gyohyeop) decided to once again put their heads together to resolve the medical gap crisis and protect residents and medical students. Their argument is that while patients must be protected, residents and medical students who face disadvantages such as license suspension and grade retention should be protected as their 'teachers.'

Previously, Jeonui Gyohyeop held a closed general meeting on the 9th to discuss ways to overcome the current situation but failed to reach a clear conclusion. Kim Chang-soo, president of Jeonui Gyohyeop, warned, "There is a strong voice supporting collective action against the government, but no decision has been made yet," and "If grade retention for medical students becomes a reality and residents do not return, voluntary resignations or removal from concurrent positions may spread among professors."

Nevertheless, the government's stance remains firm. The day before, the Presidential Office rebutted the Seoul National University College of Medicine professors' claim to decide on increasing medical school quotas one year later, stating, "Delaying by one year will cause even greater damage." This was an immediate response to the Seoul National University College of Medicine professors who resolved collective resignation to urge the government to resolve the crisis and proposed deciding on the quota increase one year later and forming a dialogue consultative body including public representatives and residents. Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, added, "The medical school quota is legally the government's responsibility for the supply and demand of the nation's entire medical workforce," and "This is a matter of continuously explaining and persuading based on our rationale, not a matter of negotiating whether 1,000 or 500 is correct."

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