[New Year's Address] I Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association, "Full Effort to Save Essential Medical Care"

I Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] On the 2nd, Dr. Il-su Lee, President of the Korean Medical Association, stated in his New Year's address, "I hope that the essential medical support measures prepared earlier last month will be effectively and faithfully implemented to improve the treatment environment in the essential medical field, which is directly linked to the lives of the people," and added, "The Medical Association will devote all efforts to revitalizing essential medical care."

To this end, President Lee emphasized, "It is urgent to alleviate the burden of high-risk treatments, which is the biggest reason for avoidance in the essential medical field, and concerns about legal disputes," and said, "We will continue to strive to enact the '(tentative name) Essential Medical Accident Handling Special Act.'" The Essential Medical Accident Handling Special Act, which the Medical Association is promoting, includes provisions that in life-critical areas such as high-risk surgeries, emergency patient treatment, and childbirth, criminal punishment will not be imposed on doctors unless there is gross negligence in medical accidents.

President Lee also conveyed his stance on various current issues in the health and medical sectors. He stated, "We will present proper solutions to block the enactment of the Nursing Act, address the issue of violence against medical personnel that undermines the functions of medical institutions, protect medical information in the era of big data, and prevent the indiscriminate proliferation of commercial platforms," and "regarding the recent ruling on the use of ultrasound diagnostic devices by Korean Medicine doctors, we will collaborate with related organizations to propose a professional direction that protects public health and expand social consensus."

Regarding the recently completed new building in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, he said, "It represents the status of 140,000 doctors and is a symbol of the future of medical care in the Republic of Korea," emphasizing, "It is the foundation of the 115-year history of the Medical Association and will be the cornerstone of the medical community's century-long plan."

Finally, President Lee said, "We will strive to present a bright future for medical care and offer hope to everyone," and added, "When wisdom is gathered to create a healthy medical environment, the sincerity of our medical community will flourish into a high level of public health and safe lives for the people."