Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Discusses Current Status of Strengthening Compensation for High-Risk Pediatric and Fetal Medical Procedures
The government expressed concern that the distribution of a list of returning residents within the medical community constitutes an act of coercing collective action.
On the 2nd, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated this during his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on doctors' collective action held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Minister Cho said, "It has been confirmed that a blacklist of returning residents was created and posted in the recent medical community. This is a very concerning phenomenon as it interferes with individuals' autonomous decision-making and forces collective action. The government has immediately requested a police investigation into this matter. We will never tolerate such illegal acts and will respond firmly," he said.
He then urged the residents to return, saying, "The government plans to take measures to ensure that when you return, you can continue your training normally and minimize the impact on obtaining specialist qualifications. We have also repeatedly stated that we will strengthen support so that you can train in better environments, such as through reduced working hours."
He also reiterated the need for dialogue between the medical community and the government. Minister Cho said, "The emergency hearing on the medical sector held at the National Assembly on June 26 showed why dialogue between the medical community and the government is necessary." He added, "The Medical Association claims that the current medical vacuum situation is the government's responsibility for tampering with a perfectly functioning medical system. However, we cannot leave our medical system as it is, where terms like emergency room rotation, pediatric open runs, and traveling childbirth to obstetrics and gynecology in other regions have become commonplace."
Regarding concerns about the decline in the quality of medical education due to the increase in medical school quotas, he said, "The government allocated quotas considering the demand survey results and educational conditions of each university, has prepared an 'Advanced Medical Education Plan,' and has continuously announced plans to boldly invest finances for medical reform. It is time for the medical community to sit down with the government and engage in dialogue and discussion," he asserted.
It was announced that the CDSCH meeting held that day would discuss the "Status of Promotion for Strengthening Compensation for High-Difficulty Pediatric and Fetal Medical Procedures." He said, "To ensure fair compensation in essential medical fields, from May, the pediatric age surcharge for 281 high-risk, high-difficulty pediatric surgeries was significantly increased, and from July, the fee surcharge for 'fetal treatment' will also be significantly increased from 100% to 400%. The government agrees with the medical community's opinion that fee increases are necessary to sustain essential medical care. As we have promised to invest more than 10 trillion won in health insurance finances by 2028, we will implement these measures one by one with a sense of urgency," he said.
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