Special Committee meets with Seoul National University Hospital Director and Party-Government Meeting: "Comprehensive Efforts to Address Issues"

Regret Over 'Medical Sector Strike' and Call for Return
"Medical Reform Package Bill to Be Proposed as Party Agenda During the Week"

On the 17th, when some professors affiliated with Seoul National University Hospital began a strike demanding a resolution to the resident doctors' crisis, the People Power Party intervened through a meeting with the hospital director and a party-government meeting.

Inyohan, Chairman of the Medical Reform Special Committee, is speaking at the Medical Reform Special Committee held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The People Power Party's Special Committee on Medical Reform held a party-government meeting for about an hour at the National Assembly with related government agencies such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education.

Inyo Han, the chairman of the special committee, said at a briefing after the meeting, "We especially discussed many measures to allow resident doctors and students to return," adding, "We will take a humble approach, meet with any group to listen to their concerns, and comprehensively address the issues to find a solution."

However, when asked by reporters whether they would accept the resident doctor-related measures among the three major demands of the Medical Association, he replied, "Today, we only reported that such demands exist overall. We need to study more thoroughly and come up with alternatives."

The Medical Association presented three major demands to the government: immediate retroactive cancellation of administrative orders and sanctions related to resident doctors and cessation of threats of legal action, reconsideration of medical school enrollment increases, and revision and supplementation of the essential medical policy package.

Before the party-government meeting, Chairman In visited Seoul National University Hospital and held a private meeting with Hospital Director Kim Young-tae. After the meeting, he stated, "Instead of sitting in the National Assembly, I want to go to the field whenever possible to hear voices and find a direction to quickly resolve this issue," and pledged to make efforts to arrange a meeting with the resident doctors.

The leadership of the People Power Party expressed regret over the medical community's collective strike and urged a return to work. Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho pointed out at the medical reform special committee's party-government meeting, "The medical vacuum caused by collective action threatens patients' safety and lives and only deepens distrust and wounds throughout society."

He continued, "Since the government has already promised that there will be no disadvantages for resident doctors who have returned, those who have left the field should also return promptly," and promised, "If the details of medical reform need to be refined, we can pool wisdom and solve them together. The People Power Party will fulfill its role as the ruling party."