"Pediatric Open Run? Just Go to a Slightly Farther or Less Stylish Place"

Seoul Medical Association Holds Protest Rally Against Government on Night of 21st
"Pediatric Open Run, Only Some Hospitals' Issue" Claim

As the government announced a detailed allocation plan for the increase of 2,000 medical school admissions, the "4th Seoul Medical Association Rally to Stop the Increase of Medical School Quotas and Essential Medical Package" was held on the 21st. However, at this event, a doctor sparked controversy by saying about the 'pediatric (pediatrics and adolescent medicine) open run,' "If the interior is a bit lacking, go to another pediatric clinic."

On the 21st, participants are shouting slogans at the 4th Rally to Stop the Increase of Medical School Quotas and Essential Medical Package, hosted by the Seoul Medical Association, in front of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

About 220 members of the Seoul Medical Association and others (estimated 300 by the organizers) attended the rally. The doctors voiced strong criticism against the government's increase in medical school quotas and essential medical policy package. In particular, they demanded the withdrawal of the allocation results, which were mainly assigned to non-metropolitan areas, calling it "the prelude to medical collapse." Slogans such as "Medical school quota increase without countermeasures will ruin medical education" and "All medical students will fail, causing a breakdown in doctor supply" were chanted.

Choi Juhyun, Public Relations Director of the Seoul Medical Association, said, "Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced the plan to allocate 2,000 medical school quotas. The essential medical policy package and the increase in medical school quotas are unilateral and unplanned policies without agreement from the medical community." Park Myeongha, President of the Seoul Medical Association, stated, "If our just fight fails, we fear a situation where for more than 10 years we will have no choice but to accept whatever the government gives and provide treatment as instructed."

"Avoid peak times or go to places with poorer interiors"

On the morning of the 13th of last month, children and their parents were waiting for medical consultation at a pediatric clinic in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

There were differing opinions regarding the 'pediatric open run' situation, which the government pointed out as one of the backgrounds for medical reform. Kim Seongbae, Vice President of the Jung-gu Medical Association, said, "'Pediatric open run' applies only to some hospitals, but no matter how much we try to inform the public, they tend to close their ears. I suggest avoiding peak times or going to other pediatric clinics even if they are farther away or have poorer interiors." He argued that public anxiety about pediatrics is exaggerated.

Previously, in the medical community, there was a statement that the pediatric open run was influenced by "young mothers having brunch." In December last year, the Korean Medical Association's quarterly 'Medical Policy Forum' published a commentary titled "Essential Medical Crisis and Medical School Quotas."

At that time, Woo Bong-sik, Director of the Medical Policy Research Institute of the Korean Medical Association, claimed in the article, "Sometimes young mothers finish early consultations and send their children to daycare centers to enjoy brunch time with friends, causing a rush at pediatric clinic opening hours," and argued, "It's only a 'run' at pediatric opening times, not during the day." This statement was soon read as out of touch with reality and angered parents. In response, the Korean Pediatric Society called it "an utterly ignorant and patronizing idea that shows no understanding of raising children" and demanded Woo's resignation.

Prime Minister Han Deok-su emphasized on the 20th, "Even before the medical community's collective action began, the public had long suffered inconvenience and pain due to pediatric open runs and metropolitan area medical tourism," adding, "Medical reform to revive essential and regional medical care is an urgent task that can no longer be postponed."