KMA: "Participation in Medical Workforce Estimation Body Not Possible... Apology Comes First"

"Cannot Participate in Discussions Unless Position Changes Are Shown"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has expressed its refusal to participate in the 'Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee' requested by the Presidential Office, stating that an apology from the government should come first.

On the 30th, regarding the Presidential Office's request for medical community participation in the doctor workforce estimation committee, the KMA reiterated its call for a sincere apology and a change in stance, stating, "Without the government's withdrawal of mistaken policies and an apology, participation in the doctor workforce estimation committee is impossible."

Previously, the Presidential Office announced the establishment of a 'Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee' under the Presidential Commission on Medical Reform (PCMR) to more broadly incorporate the medical community's opinions and demands in the future medical school expansion process. The committee will be composed of subcommittees for nurses, doctors, dentists, and Korean medicine doctors, with 10 to 15 experts participating in each subcommittee.

The KMA stated, "The government must first apologize for forcing mistaken medical policies such as increasing medical school quotas and the essential medical package policy, which have caused the current medical crisis," and added, "We clearly state that unless the government shows a definite change in position, we cannot participate in any discussions."

The government plans to allocate the majority of expert recommendation rights for each subcommittee to professional organizations in each field, such as medical associations. This means that in the expert committee estimating doctor workforce supply and demand, more than half of the experts will be recommended by the supplier side, i.e., medical associations.