Korea Severe Disease Association "National Assembly Must Resolve Medical Service Gap"

"General Election Over, Time to Address Patient Suffering"
Healthcare Workers Call for Legislation to Prevent Emergency Room and ICU Staff Attrition

The Korea Severe Disease Alliance demanded on the 15th that the 21st National Assembly, which convened after the general election, "come closer to the people and take action to resolve patients' suffering" by addressing the medical service gap crisis.

Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong is attending a meeting with patient organizations held on the morning of the 4th at Seoul City Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul. The meeting was attended by the Korea Patient Organization Federation, Korea Rare and Intractable Disease Federation, and Korea Severe Disease Federation.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In a statement released that day, the alliance said, "The National Assembly has confirmed the public's will through the general election," and added, "It is time for the National Assembly to awaken from the long dormancy during the election period and show responsible action so that the government and the medical community can promptly end the medical service gap crisis that concerns the lives and health of the people and patients."

The alliance requested that the 21st National Assembly and the newly formed 22nd National Assembly prioritize reviewing the following: ▲ immediate cessation of conflicts between the government and medical professionals ▲ presentation of mediation proposals ▲ enactment of laws to prevent medical personnel from leaving emergency rooms and intensive care units ▲ discussion of solutions for public, essential, and regional medical issues ▲ measures to ensure the financial soundness of the National Health Insurance system ▲ expansion of budgets and legislative discussions related to public hospitals and public medical schools.