Government "Regretful and Sorry for Residents Who May Be Giving Up Their Dreams and Worrying About Their Careers"
Han Jia "Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Organization Can Complement the Ruling and Opposition Parliamentary Consultative Body"
The People Power Party interpreted the government's expression of regret and apology toward medical residents as a sign of a more open attitude and willingness to participate in the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body.
Han Jia, the chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, said at the National Assembly on the 30th, "I understand that Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong emphasized the importance of the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body during his briefing today," adding, "In a way, it can be interpreted as a message that both the government and the medical community should participate in the consultative body without setting a prior agenda or preconditions."
Minister Cho said at the media briefing that day, "It is very regrettable and I feel sorry when I think of the medical residents who have temporarily put aside their dream of dedicating themselves to essential medical care and are now contemplating their future paths during the process of promoting medical reform." Chief spokesperson Han interpreted this stance of the government as a progressive attitude toward the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body.
Han said, "The medical community has been requesting a change in the government's attitude so far," and added, "It seems the government has responded." He continued, "I urge the medical community to participate in the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body to not only resolve the medical service gap but also to work together toward the common goal of public health."
However, regarding the government's statement at the briefing that the 2025 medical school quota is non-negotiable, Han explained, "Saying that discussions can be held without agenda restrictions means that the 2025 quota will be included in the discussions, and this has been stated by both the ruling and opposition parties, and even the government. But it is understandable that the government cannot refrain from expressing its own views." Although it is understood that the government cannot easily cancel the medical school quota plan amid the sensitive situation of the 2025 academic year admissions, this is interpreted as meaning that discussions can be held without preconditions in the consultative body. Despite the firm stances of both the government and the medical community on the cancellation of the 2025 medical school quota, the priority is to engage in dialogue within the consultative body.
Regarding the criticism that the government's announcement on the same day about establishing a presidential office-affiliated medical workforce supply and demand estimation body might be bypassing the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body promoted by the ruling party, Han said, "Today, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Park Min-su said that although the estimation body will be operated directly under the president, it can complement the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body," adding, "He also said that, in a way, it could practically receive what is done in the consultative body and provide assistance." After meeting with Representative Han that day, Deputy Minister Park told reporters that the estimation body "can operate in parallel with the ruling-opposition-parliament-government consultative body and also support it as a committee."
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