"We Will Strive to Create Conditions and Atmosphere for Resident Doctors' Return"
Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated on the 21st that disciplinary action against residents who have left in protest of the increase in medical school quotas and have not yet returned to the field "seems inevitable."
On the morning of the same day, Vice Minister Park appeared on KBS Jeonggyeok Sisa and said, "There may be disciplinary actions planned for residents who have not returned yet."
Vice Minister Park explained, "However, the government is reviewing various options regarding when to take these disciplinary actions and the severity of the sanctions," adding, "Since the reasons for leaving the medical field may vary individually, a procedure to verify this is necessary." He further stated, "We plan to comprehensively review the clear distinctions between those who have returned and those who have not, and prepare additional measures accordingly."
Park Min-su, the 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), is briefing the results of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting related to the doctors' collective action held on the 18th at the Seoul Government Complex. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
The government plans to support as many residents and students as possible to return to medical practice and studies. Vice Minister Park said, "We are continuously requesting dialogue with the medical community," and added, "It has been confirmed that some residents want to return. There are residents contacting us (the Ministry of Health and Welfare), and the government will work harder to create conditions and an atmosphere that allow them to return comfortably."
Regarding the recent court decision to dismiss and reject the request for a suspension of the enforcement of the medical school quota increase, Vice Minister Park said, "I believe the ruling confirms that the increase in medical school quotas is a necessary and urgent policy from the perspective of the entire nation, and that research, investigation, and discussions have been ongoing." He urged, "Since the increase is virtually confirmed, the medical community should end the exhausting conflicts, stop collective actions, and come to the table for dialogue."
On the other hand, after the court ruling, Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Medical Association, expressed discomfort by accusing the judge who dismissed the request for suspension of enforcement of the medical school quota increase of being "coaxed because of a Supreme Court Justice position." In response, Vice Minister Park stated, "This is a very inappropriate claim for which it is extremely difficult to find objective evidence," and pointed out, "(The KMA) is not a private organization but one premised on public interest, so the representative of this organization should not say anything carelessly in the media." He continued, "Since this could also damage the reputation of other doctors, I think appropriate measures are needed within the medical community," and added, "From the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s standpoint, which manages and supervises the KMA, it is necessary to review whether this was 'appropriate, and whether it can be recognized as general or public interest activities within the framework of the law.'"
Vice Minister Park predicted that the next government confrontation card the KMA might use could be a partial strike involving private practitioners. He urged, "The reason doctors exist is to treat patients," and requested, "Please refrain from mentioning extreme struggles any further and hope that they will not actually be carried out."
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