Ministry of Health and Welfare "Conducting Survey on Extension of Military Medical Officers and Public Health Doctors' Dispatch Period"
Medical Association Emergency Committee Moves to Resolve Internal Conflicts
As the medical service gap caused by the departure of residents is prolonged, the government has strengthened the emergency medical system, including extending the dispatch of substitute personnel. The medical community is expected to begin full-scale discussions on the response direction for increasing medical school admissions after resolving internal conflicts.
On the 14th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held the 32nd meeting of the 'Central Accident Response Headquarters for Doctors' Collective Action (CARH)' to review the operation status of the emergency medical system and the current situation of doctors' collective action.
As a result of the emergency medical system operation status check that day, the number of inpatients in general wards was 83,349, a 3.7% decrease compared to the previous week. The number of patients admitted to intensive care units decreased by 1.5% in tertiary general hospitals and by 2% in all general hospitals compared to the previous week. Among 408 emergency rooms, 394 are operating without bed reductions.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it has extended the deadline for applying for national subsidies from the 12th to the 17th of this month to ensure that wage support for medical institutions operating the emergency medical system, doctors, and nurses is carried out without disruption. In addition, a demand survey for extending the dispatch period is being conducted for 147 public health doctors and 100 military doctors who were dispatched in the second round starting from the 25th of last month.
Starting from the 18th, training for Physician Assistant (PA) nurses will be conducted.
Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong said, "The government will prioritize protecting the lives and health of the people by strengthening the operation of the emergency medical system and enhancing tailored support to minimize damage to critically ill emergency patients."
On the same day, the Emergency Committee of the Korean Medical Association (KMA Emergency Committee) held its first meeting after the general election, which ended with the ruling party's defeat, and began to resolve internal conflicts.
Recently, Park Dan, the Emergency Committee Chairperson of the Korean Intern Resident Association, posted on social media (SNS) that medical school professors are "managers of exploitation chains." In response, Kim Taek-woo, a member of the KMA Emergency Committee, said at a press meeting before the 8th meeting of the KMA Emergency Committee at 2 p.m. that day, "Various voices can come out depending on different occupational groups, and these are parts we need to listen to." He added, "If good opinions from each side overflow and relationships are established, the current situation may improve significantly."
He also shared his position on the conflict with Lim Hyun-taek, the newly elected president of the KMA, over the Emergency Committee chairperson position.
Committee member Kim explained, "There were some communication difficulties, and if the president-elect comes today, we will discuss any shortcomings in communication and align our minds to move forward as a unified front without major problems."
Regarding the press conference to be held together with residents, medical students, and medical school professors, he said, "I think it can be held anytime if various voices come together as one," and added, "Please think of it as open rather than too closed."
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