Vice Minister Park Minsu Chairs Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting Amid Doctors' Collective Action
"Discussion on Medical School Quotas Possible if Medical Community Proposes Rational Measures"
The government reiterated that the emergency medical situations that occurred during the Chuseok holiday period are "problems that have existed before" and emphasized once again that it will "complete medical reform to expand the insufficient essential medical and regional medical workforce."
On the 20th, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on doctors' collective action at the Government Seoul Office and pointed out, "Major emergency medical cases reported during the holiday period, such as high-risk deliveries, finger amputation patients, and abdominal stab wound patients, were caused by a lack of essential and regional medical resources, which are problems that have continuously occurred in the existing medical system."
Vice Minister Park continued, "We cannot stand by and watch this situation any longer. This is why medical reform to protect the lives and health of the people can no longer be postponed," adding, "The government will expand the insufficient essential and regional medical workforce and ensure that the public can use medical services with peace of mind by successfully carrying out medical reform."
At the regional emergency medical centers of Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital and Yongin Severance Hospital, which Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong visited during the Chuseok holiday, proposals were made including ▲strengthening the control tower for the transfer and referral of emergency patients ▲exemption from criminal punishment in the field of emergency medical care ▲institutionalization of the temporarily supported fees during the 'Chuseok Holiday Emergency Response Week.'
Vice Minister Park said, "The government will strengthen the regional transfer and referral system through enhancing the function of the metropolitan situation room and will continue to promote compensation reinforcement for emergency, backup medical care, and critical care," adding, "Matters requiring legal amendments such as easing judicial burdens will be promptly reviewed through discussions by the Special Committee on Medical Reform to support the maintenance of the emergency medical system."
He also once again proposed that if the medical community presents reasonable alternatives, discussions on the medical school quota for 2026 could take place.
Vice Minister Park said, "If reasonable alternatives regarding the medical school quota and reform tasks are presented, the government is open-minded and ready to discuss them," and added, "We hope the medical community will promptly participate in the ruling and opposition parliamentary council to openly discuss and share the future blueprint of our medical system together."
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