Park Neung-hoo "Emergency Room Operated 24 Hours... Thorough Preparation to Avoid Inconvenience" (Comprehensive)

Minister of Health and Welfare Issues Public Address

"Extreme Measures Using Patients as Leverage Must Be Avoided
...The Door to Dialogue Remains Open Until the End"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 13th, Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, requested the Korean Medical Association, which is opposing the expansion of medical school quotas and has announced a collective strike on the 14th, to "refrain from extreme measures that put patients' sacrifices at stake."

On the morning of the same day, Minister Park issued a public statement titled "A Message to the Public and Medical Professionals Regarding the Korean Medical Association's Collective Strike" at the Government Complex Sejong.

He emphasized that the issue of expanding medical school quotas is a medical system matter to be discussed between the government and the medical community and is unrelated to patients who need treatment.

◆ "Suspending Medical Services Violates Doctors' Duty" = Minister Park expressed regret, saying, "Actions aimed at enforcing demands through suspension of medical services, which could endanger patients' lives and safety, will find it difficult to gain public trust and support and violate the fundamental duty of doctors."

The government particularly raised its voice that there must be no gaps in medical services in emergency rooms and intensive care units. Minister Park stated, "If illegal acts during the collective strike cause harm to patients' health and safety, we will respond according to law and principles."

The background of the conflict between the government and the medical community lies in the expansion of medical school quotas. Earlier, the government announced on the 23rd of last month that it would increase medical school admissions by 400 students annually for ten years starting from the 2022 academic year.

Minister Park said, "There is not much difference in the goals pursued by the government and the Korean Medical Association," adding, "We will not simply increase the number of doctors but allocate medical personnel to necessary regions and specialties." The government also promised ▲improvements in education and training environments ▲designation of excellent hospitals by region ▲introduction of health insurance fee surcharges such as regional bonuses.

◆ 24-Hour Emergency Room Operation... 'Work Commencement Order' if Necessary = The government plans to prepare for all cases to prevent any gaps in medical services. It will also respond strictly if threats to public health and safety arise.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare instructed hospital associations to operate emergency rooms 24 hours a day and to extend consultations on strike days and provide weekend medical services. Additionally, the ministry and local governments established 24-hour emergency medical situation rooms to prepare for emergencies. Medical institutions providing consultations on strike days were posted on the websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and each city and province.

The government also introduced the 'work commencement order' card. Minister Park said, "In cases where many medical institutions in certain regions are on strike and it is predicted that damage to citizens' lives and safety will occur, health centers have been instructed to issue work commencement orders," adding, "We will do our best to prevent any gaps in medical services."

Minister Park once again urged the Korean Medical Association to resolve the issue through dialogue. He said, "The door to dialogue remains open until the very end," and requested, "The Korean Medical Association should trust the government's sincerity and come to the negotiating table even today to resolve the issue rationally."