"Difficulty in Estimating Number of Doctors Due to Unavailability of Latest Data"
The Emergency Response Committee (ERC) of the Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital Professors' Council has requested the government to disclose the data necessary for research on physician supply projections.
On the 21st, the ERC held a press conference at Yang Yun-seon Hall in the Convergence Building of Seoul National University College of Medicine in Jongno-gu, Seoul, announcing this request. Kang Hee-kyung, the chairperson of the ERC, stated, "We ask the government to sincerely provide the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and Statistics Korea necessary for the scientific research on physician supply projections conducted by the ERC."
Last month, the ERC announced that it would call for research publications on "scientific projections of the required number of physicians reflecting medical reform scenarios desired by the public" to establish scientific and rational grounds for physician quotas.
Chairperson Kang said, "Until now, researchers had varying levels of access to data and faced limitations in obtaining the latest data, which prevented satisfactory research on physician numbers. We will disclose the latest data received from the government to all researchers and enable any capable researcher to use this data."
Regarding the significance of calling for research while the increase in medical school admissions for next year is virtually confirmed, she explained, "The government’s policy is to reconsider the increase in medical school admissions in the future, but if we do not conduct this research now, the medical community will have no way to present numbers at the time of reconsideration."
On plans to mediate for residents to return to medical practice, she said, "Other than asking to stop the (medical-government) conflict, there is nothing we can do."
When asked by reporters whether she was willing to participate in the Presidential Commission on Medical Reform to discuss policies, she replied, "I want to participate, but currently the commission’s structure does not allow the voices of the majority of physicians to be reflected."
She also stated that no specific decision has been made regarding the professors’ plan for work stoppage. Oh Seung-won, a professor at Seoul National University Hospital and head of the ERC publicity team, said, "Since the situation varies by hospital and department and patient inconvenience must be considered, there cannot be a unified work stoppage plan. However, given that the situation is more difficult than one or two weeks ago, I think such circumstances should be taken into account if a work stoppage occurs."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
