"Medical System Will Completely Collapse" Expresses Concern
"People Power Party Must Actively Persuade the Government"
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, expressed concern over the ongoing six-month conflict between the medical community and the government, stating, "By around autumn, a chain of bankruptcies will begin at local medical centers." On the 21st, Ahn urged the government to honestly admit its mistakes regarding the conflict and to announce that the increase in medical school admissions will be implemented starting next year. He also called on the ruling party to persuade the government.
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, responded to reporters' questions after casting a vote in favor of the bill concerning the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the obstruction of investigation and concealment of incidents related to the death of a Marine officer during the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Seoul on the afternoon of July 4. [Photo by Yonhap News]
On the same day, during an SBS radio interview, when the host mentioned an article stating that emergency rooms in Seoul are also on the verge of collapse following those in the provinces, Ahn responded, "That is true," and explained, "Professors at provincial medical schools are quitting and moving to Seoul. As a result, there is a shortage of essential medical doctors, and provincial healthcare is lacking." He added, "The government seems to think that simply increasing the number of medical school admissions will automatically lead to doctors going to the provinces and essential medical fields, but the opposite is happening." He further explained, "When the figure of 2,000 additional students was proposed, I said that in 10 years, 2,000 dermatology clinics would open annually in Seoul, and now it is heading in that direction."
He also expressed skepticism about the government's goal of expanding medical school admissions by 2,000 students and proposed more refined alternatives. He said, "It has become clear that the government pushed through the 2,000 figure without properly preparing or precisely determining how many are actually needed." He warned, "The biggest problem is that medical students, residents, and fourth-year medical students will not take the medical licensing exam, resulting in no new doctors next year. If there are no doctors for an entire year, the entire hospital system will collapse."
Furthermore, he urged the government to "honestly admit their mistakes, agree to increase medical school admissions, and since more time is needed to refine the plan, announce that the implementation will begin next year." He added, "The ruling party should also make every effort to persuade the government. When the government proposes flawed policies that are somewhat disconnected from public sentiment, pointing out these issues and proposing better alternatives is the long-term way for the government to increase its approval ratings."
Additionally, Ahn argued that if the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties agree on a special investigation law for Marine Corps personnel, members of the People Power Party should also pass it. He emphasized that the special investigation bill should be jointly created through agreement between the leaders of both parties.
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