Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, "Medical Field Struggles Due to Resident Doctor Attrition, Solutions Must Be Found Through Communication"

Discussion on Current Issues with Gyeongnam Medical Association to Minimize Medical Service Gaps

On the 29th, the last day of the return deadline set by the government for residents who are collectively protesting against the expansion of medical school quotas, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, met with officials from the Gyeongnam Medical Association.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is speaking about medical issues related to the withdrawal of residents from the field in protest against the medical school expansion policy during a meeting with the Gyeongnam Medical Association.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

At a meeting held in the provincial government conference room, Governor Park said, “From the regional perspective, securing doctors is an essential situation, but since the announcement of the government's essential medical measures, residents have left the field, exacerbating difficulties in medical sites,” adding, “It is time to find alternatives through communication with the Medical Association.”

In response, Choi Seong-geun, President of the Gyeongnam Medical Association, expressed, “The Medical Association's position is that creating conditions for working in essential medical fields is more important than simply increasing the number of doctors,” and lamented, “There is a lack of communication that should have taken place during the policy implementation process.”

Choi Seong-geun, chairman of the Gyeongnam Medical Association, is expressing the association's position on the government's medical school expansion policy.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

He added, “I agree with the province’s position that an appropriate referral system matching the roles of primary, secondary, and tertiary medical institutions is necessary for responding to emergency situations,” and “Medical staff, including the Medical Association, will also do their best to ensure that the health of the residents is not threatened.”

Governor Park said, “It seems important to communicate, show consideration, and compromise regarding the concerning medical vacuum,” and “We will continue communication and cooperation with medical professionals, including the Medical Association, gather various opinions, and strive to resolve this issue wisely.”

Governor Park has been maintaining communication with the field by inspecting the situation at training hospitals and emergency medical centers in the province, such as Yangsan Busan National University Hospital on the 21st, and holding a meeting with heads of secondary medical institutions on the 26th.

At the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office's administrative meeting room, Governor Park Wan-su and officials from the Gyeongnam Medical Association are discussing medical issues such as the withdrawal of residents from the field.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Gyeongnam Province is implementing emergency medical measures to minimize medical vacancies in the province, including ▲strengthening 24-hour operation of the emergency medical situation room ▲extending operating hours of public hospitals such as Masan Medical Center ▲opening Jin-hae Naval Maritime Medical Center for civilian emergency treatment ▲deploying additional reserve ambulances by the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters ▲providing guidance and accompaniment to treatment hospitals ▲prior information on medical institutions.

Earlier, residents nationwide, including those in Gyeongnam, have been engaging in collective actions such as submitting resignations in protest against the government's policy to expand medical school quotas by 2,000, marking the 10th day as of this date.

Residents of the Gyeongnam Medical Association argue, “The shortage is not of doctors but of doctors working in essential medical fields due to a flawed medical system,” and claim, “Specific preparations such as raising medical fees and enacting the Medical Accident Special Act must come first.”