Government: "KMA Must Form Medical-Government Consultative Body First... Medical Licensing Exam Issue Is Not a Prerequisite"

Gang Do-tae, 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, "I believe the medical community will not engage in collective action"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] "It is not appropriate for the Korean Medical Association (KMA) to demand the resolution of the medical students' national examination (Kuksi) as a precondition for forming the medical-government consultative body."

Kang Do-tae, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, stated this on the 29th during a luncheon meeting with the press corps held at a restaurant in Sejong City, regarding the KMA's demand to resolve the medical students' Kuksi before forming the consultative body. This was an indirect expression of refusal to the KMA's demand that the government present a solution to the medical students' Kuksi issue by the 28th.

Vice Minister Kang said, "The medical students' Kuksi issue was not originally an agenda item for the medical-government consultative body," adding, "The agenda for the consultative body includes pre-agreed matters such as expanding medical school quotas, establishing public medical schools, and regional medical support measures, so it is important to sincerely discuss these issues going forward."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the KMA's Special Committee for Medical Sector Struggle held a working-level meeting on the 27th. During the meeting, they discussed the formation of the consultative body and the doctors' national examination issue but only confirmed the differences in their positions. In response, the KMA stated that if the government does not present a clear solution soon, they will consider drastic measures such as strikes.

Vice Minister Kang said, "I do not know exactly what the drastic measures the KMA refers to are, but I do not want to think about going toward collective action," adding, "I also believe they will not take such action."

He mentioned, "Looking at the process of medical-government consultations so far, although there are differences in detailed positions, there has been a shared understanding on major directions such as the development of health care, regional medical disparities, and strengthening fairness," and added, "In this situation, I wonder if they would really take collective action, but if they do, the KMA should be fully prepared for the impact on COVID-19 response and the public."

"KMA should discuss current issues after joining the consultative body"
"Medical-government conflicts could rather become an opportunity for a turnaround"

Vice Minister Kang proposed that the KMA form the medical-government consultative body first before demanding the resolution of the medical students' issue from the government. He said, "I hope the KMA will fully discuss the necessary issues after joining the consultative body," emphasizing, "The government is ready to engage sincerely, and I ask the KMA to actively cooperate." He explained that after forming the consultative body, current issues including the medical students' problem can be addressed during the process of discussing the health care system.

Regarding the view that the political sector should seek solutions as the government and medical community run on parallel tracks over the medical students' Kuksi issue, Vice Minister Kang said, "The medical students' Kuksi issue should ultimately be led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the competent authority," adding, "We are listening to voices from various sectors including the National Assembly, media, and medical community regarding public acceptance."

Vice Minister Kang also mentioned that the recent conflicts between the medical community and the government could rather become an opportunity for a turnaround. He said, "During the difficult times of COVID-19, problems between the medical community and government have surfaced, exposing many issues that need improvement from the public's perspective," adding, "Through this (conflict) process, I believe a window of opportunity has opened to publicize and debate medical policies."

He continued, "I was appointed as the 2nd Vice Minister last September, and since I have mainly worked on health care and health insurance policies, I take this as a mandate to resolve the pending issues in this field well," and expressed, "In this period of accelerated social change due to COVID-19, I will carry out my responsibilities and mission with a sense of duty, actively addressing not only COVID-19 response but also many issues in the health care sector."