Medical Reform Special Committee: "No Discussion on Medical School Quotas... Discussing Within the Larger Framework of Medical Reform"

"Communicating with the Medical Community to Encourage Participation"
"Reconsidering from Scratch Is Not a Rational Alternative"

On the 25th, the Presidential Commission on Medical Reform (the Commission), which held its first meeting, announced that it will discuss healthcare system and institutional reforms in broad terms rather than focusing on the specific number of medical school quotas.

No Yeonhong, Chairman of the Presidential Special Committee on Medical Reform, is speaking at a briefing held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around 1:30 p.m. on the 25th. Photo by Choi Taewon peaceful1@

No Yeonhong, the chairperson of the Commission, held a related briefing at around 1:30 p.m. at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, after the first meeting of the Commission. He stated, "The Commission is a body that discusses healthcare system and institutional reforms from a broader perspective," adding, "While we can exchange opinions on the mechanisms for adjusting the supply and demand of medical personnel, this is not a body to discuss specific medical school quotas."

On that day, the Commission focused on four priority medical reform tasks on which there was consensus and plans to announce a detailed roadmap within the first half of the year. The four tasks are ▲ strengthening compensation for critical and essential medical care ▲ normalizing the medical delivery system ▲ introducing a national responsibility system for resident training ▲ strengthening the safety net for medical accidents.

To this end, the Commission plans to promote measures such as fee increases and payment system innovation, establishing incentive systems for appropriate medical use, improving resident working conditions, and enacting a special law on medical accident handling. Chairperson No said, "The Commission’s goals are threefold: a revolutionary strengthening of essential medical care, public health in regional medical services, and preparation for a super-aged society," adding, "While rapidly advancing the four top priority tasks, we will also report a detailed roadmap on the remaining tasks to the public within the Commission’s activity period."

However, the specific scope of discussions has not yet been determined. In response to reporters’ questions about specific agenda items, Jeon Byeongwang, Director of the Health and Medical Policy Office, who attended the briefing, replied, "The detailed scope of discussions will be decided by the Commission going forward."

Regarding the operation of the Commission, it promised to uphold four principles: transparency, expertise, independence, and mutual cooperation.

The Commission also reiterated its call for participation from the medical community. Chairperson No said both in his opening remarks before the meeting and at the briefing, "We request the Korea Medical Association and the Korean Intern Resident Association to promptly participate in the Commission as partners in medical reform," adding, "We are communicating with the medical community through many channels." Director Jeon also said, "We are continuously making efforts to communicate with the medical community privately."

However, the Commission drew a clear line by stating that it is not considering the medical community’s demand for a fundamental re-examination. Director Jeon said, "Rational and scientific evidence must be presented to show whether the number of doctors is insufficient or necessary; without such evidence, calling for a fundamental re-examination and freezing increases is not a reasonable alternative," adding, "Claiming a fundamental re-examination without presenting an appropriate level of medical personnel sounds like maintaining the current state without alternatives."

Meanwhile, the Commission’s second regular meeting is scheduled to be held around the second week of next month. It is known that the plan is to hold regular Commission meetings once a month and expert committee meetings once a week. The specific schedule will be discussed at the next regular meeting.