"Medical Collapse Can No Longer Be Overlooked"
Practical Discussions Expected Next Week
KMA Clearly States "Will Not Participate in Consultative Body"
The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools (KAMC·Medical School Association) have decided to participate in the ruling and opposition parties' medical policy council. The Korean Medical Association (KMA) announced its decision not to participate but expressed respect for the two organizations and urged them to exercise caution.
On the 22nd, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and KAMC issued a statement announcing this decision. They said, "We clearly state that we oppose the government's unilateral policy implementation that has been ongoing and fully support the sincere intentions of young doctors who want to provide proper medical care," while also explaining their participation by saying, "When considering the health of the public and patients as the highest priority, we can no longer overlook the collapse of Korean healthcare caused by misguided policy decisions."
They also presented five key issues to be discussed: ▲ The leave of absence applications submitted by medical school students should be approved autonomously by universities before the launch of the ruling and opposition parties' medical policy council ▲ Setting specific implementation plans and roadmaps for the legislative establishment of the 2025 and 2026 medical school admission quotas and the physician quota estimation body ▲ Respecting the autonomy of medical student education and residency training institutions and guaranteeing the establishment and support of national policies for the enhancement and development of education and training ▲ Ensuring the independence and autonomy of the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation ▲ Reforming the Special Committee on Medical Reform (Uigeaeteukwi).
The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences plans to conduct practical discussions this week on how to organize the ruling and opposition parties' medical policy council.
However, the KMA announced that it will not participate in the council. In a statement released that day, the KMA said, "We clearly state that we will not participate in the council at this time," and added, "We respect the decisions of the two organizations and ask them to exercise caution so that the opinions of the entire medical community can be well represented."
They continued, "While we understood and agreed with some of the discussion points intended by the Academy of Medical Sciences, we requested that discussions contrary to the medical community's opinions be excluded," and said, "The Academy of Medical Sciences and KAMC expressed their position that they can no longer stand by as the distortion of systems in tertiary hospitals is being carried out unilaterally by the government, and the KMA also sympathized with this."
Furthermore, "Although the KMA is not participating in the council, it will continue internal discussions through ongoing communication with the Academy of Medical Sciences and related organizations," and added, "Since the Academy of Medical Sciences has decided to participate in the council, we hope that the demands of residents and medical students will be reflected and that discussions considering the opinions of the entire medical community will take place."
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