"Unlimited Freedom for Medical Practice Not Allowed by Constitution and Law"
"Please End Collective Strike and Join Medical Reform"
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo criticized the collective strike by doctors opposing the increase in medical school quotas on the 16th, calling it "an act that leaves a deep wound on our entire society and destroys the trust built over decades between doctors and patients."
At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on doctors' collective actions held at the Government Seoul Office that day, Prime Minister Han said, "Even though patients who are ill are tearfully pleading for the collective strike to stop, the medical community has not changed its decision to continue the strike up to this moment, which I deeply regret."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on medical professionals' collective action held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 16th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Prime Minister Han stated, "The right to life is the most fundamental of our citizens' basic rights," adding, "The government guarantees benefits to doctors who handle life, benefits not available in other professions, while also restricting some professional freedoms in accordance with the authority granted to the government by the Constitution and laws."
He continued, "This is a measure to protect the people's right to life and is equally applied not only to doctors but also to other essential public services such as railroads, water supply, electricity, and the Bank of Korea," and said, "If doctors were to be granted all freedoms, then the establishment of medical schools, adjustment of medical school quotas, and allowing foreign medical licenses to operate domestically should also be equally free, leaving no reason for conflict."
He emphasized, "Unlimited freedom in all areas of medical practice cannot and should not be allowed, and our constitutional and legal system clearly states this."
Prime Minister Han said, "The government has already clearly promised that there will be no disadvantages for returning residents," adding, "The government cares about the future of residents as much as professors do and has judged that this is the wiser choice for the entire country."
He reiterated the position that the cancellation of the increase in medical school quotas is unacceptable, saying, "However, no matter how many times I consider it, it is difficult to accept the demand to retroactively nullify measures based on the Constitution and laws as if they never existed."
Prime Minister Han mentioned, "The Constitution and laws are principles that all of us, including doctors and the government, must always abide by, not something to be followed intermittently," and added, "This is a fundamental principle that must be upheld going forward."
He stated, "The government is open to all dialogues and always ready. We will meet and discuss in any format if the medical community wishes," and said, "We earnestly await the medical community to join the framework of medical reform and become the brain of medical reform instead of engaging in collective strikes."
Regarding the Korea Association of Obstetric Hospitals and the Korea Association of Children's Hospitals, which announced they would not participate in the collective strike, Prime Minister Han expressed gratitude, saying, "The public and patients will hold heartfelt respect and remember this for a long time."
Prime Minister Han added, "The government will do its best until the last moment to persuade the medical community to prevent this collective strike from materializing, and even if the strike occurs, we will do our utmost to ensure there is no inconvenience in using hospitals and clinics."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
