KMA Next President Appeals to World Medical Association to Highlight Government-Medical Community Conflicts

World Medical Association: "Korean Doctors' Work Environment and Wage Levels Worse than Advanced Countries"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Im Hyun-taek, the next president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), appealed to the World Medical Association (WMA) president to inform the international community about the conflict between the government and the medical sector and to show solidarity.

On the 19th, Im, the president-elect, and Kim Taek-woo, the KMA emergency committee chairman, met with WMA President Luzain Alkodmani and WMA Secretary-General Ottba Kloiber at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul. They said, "The situation triggered by the government's increase in medical school admissions has entered its ninth week, and the Korean medical system is on the verge of complete collapse, but the government is demonizing doctors and treating them as criminals, effectively putting a knife on the table." They added, "We arranged this meeting to directly inform the WMA president and secretary-general of this situation, which goes against international common sense, and to seek international solidarity."

Kim, the emergency committee chairman, said, "Korean doctors have been demanding measures from the government to prevent the disappearance of essential and regional medical care, but the government is only increasing the number of doctors, hoping for a trickle-down effect." He added, "We appreciate your help in spreading the problems of the Korean medical system and the voices of residents who have left the medical field to the world."

Luzain Alkodmani, WMA president, who visited Seoul to attend the 226th WMA Council meeting held from the 18th to the 20th of this month, said, "The rights and autonomy of professionals are issues being addressed not only in Korea but also in many other countries." He added, "This WMA Council meeting is focusing on the Korean issue." Regarding the government's announcement on the same day that universities would be allowed to autonomously decide the scale of next year's medical school admissions increase within a range of 50 to 100% of the increase, he said, "I am not sure if young doctors will accept this," and added, "The WMA will closely discuss with the KMA and keep a close watch on the situation in Korea."

WMA Secretary-General Ottba Kloiber criticized the Korean government with a somewhat agitated tone. He pointed out, "The Korean government's plan to suddenly increase medical school admissions by 60% will not succeed no matter how much money is spent." He also said, "Although Korea is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the working environment and wage levels of young doctors are so poor that they cannot be compared to those of developed countries," and added, "I hope the government and doctors will create a constructive dialogue platform and quickly resolve the issue."

Im, the president-elect, said, "Korea's medical policy has been carried out unilaterally by bureaucrats and politicians for decades without respect for experts," and appealed, "Please show solidarity in resolving the abnormal and oppressive doctor suppression by the Korean government."