[2024 National Audit] Minister Jo Gyu-hong: "Create Conditions for Resident Doctors' Return to Resolve Medical Crisis Within the Year"

"Groups Participating in the Ruling and Opposition Medical Council Will Effectively Convey Medical Community Opinions"
"Plan B Exists if Residents Do Not Return..."

Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong stated that he is receiving medical community opinions well through organizations participating in the ruling and opposition parties' parliamentary consultation body and will strive to resolve the medical crisis within this year. He also mentioned that there is a 'Plan B' in preparation in case residents do not return to the medical field by early next year, but before that, various measures will be devised to enable residents and medical students to return.

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong is responding to lawmakers' questions during the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee's audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 23rd, during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare by the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, in response to a question from Assemblyman So Byung-hoon of the Democratic Party of Korea asking, "Will the current medical crisis end by March next year?" Minister Cho replied, "I cannot guarantee when it will end, but we will accept what we can regarding the demands of the residents, and for those we cannot accept, we will explain well so that they can return early."

Assemblyman So asked, "If residents do not return, the medical crisis could worsen. Is there a Plan B for this?" Minister Cho said, "As I have mentioned before, there is a Plan B, but I think creating conditions for their return is the most urgent."

In response to requests from assembly members to report specific plans to their offices, he added, "I will take some time to report on Plan B. If it is disclosed in advance, the ongoing negotiations themselves may not proceed well, so please understand."

Regarding criticism that he should take responsibility as minister for the medical crisis, Minister Cho said, "Both medical reform and pension reform are being promoted under the responsibility of the Minister of Health and Welfare," adding, "Medical reform will be discussed through the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultation body, in which some medical associations have agreed to participate, to resolve the medical crisis early, and for pension reform, if the National Assembly reaches an agreement through bipartisan discussions, we will accept it as much as possible."

Regarding the participation of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools (KAMC·Medical School Association), academic organizations in the medical community, in the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultation body the day before, he expressed expectations, saying, "Although these two organizations have limitations in perfectly representing other medical associations, they will be able to convey the medical community's opinions in sufficient detail."

When Assemblywoman Baek Hye-ryun of the Democratic Party asked, "These two organizations demanded that the issue of approving medical students' leaves of absence be resolved before the consultation body is launched. If the leave approval issue is not resolved, does this mean the two organizations will not participate?" Minister Cho replied, "I think they emphasized the necessity of that."

When asked about the possibility of ending the medical crisis within this year, he explained again, "I think it will be resolved more quickly once the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultation body is activated," adding, "We will strive to resolve it within the year."

Regarding the Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee, which was to receive member recommendations from medical associations by the 18th of this month, he said, "It seems burdensome for medical associations to participate in the estimation committee first without formalizing policy consultations with the government," adding, "Therefore, we are waiting for doctors' participation and will first expedite the launch including nurses and specialized estimation institutions."

When asked whether he agrees with legislating the medical school quota estimation body, he said, "There are pros and cons to legislation," adding, "Legislation would provide predictability but could lead to rigid operation, so it can be sufficiently discussed in the ruling and opposition parliamentary consultation body."

Minister Cho also expressed a positive stance on improving the medical system using hospitals' accumulated earmarked reserves (earmarked funds). In response to Assemblyman Kim Yoon's criticism that hospitals only use earmarked funds to purchase land or equipment and are stingy in hiring doctors, he said, "I acknowledge the necessity of utilizing earmarked funds," adding, "We need to consult with financial and tax authorities, and I hope for much support from the National Assembly."

In response to Assemblyman Seo Young-seok of the Democratic Party's accusation that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is attempting medical privatization, Minister Cho firmly denied it. He emphasized, "We are neither considering nor planning medical privatization," adding, "Regarding health insurance, we will maintain the mandatory designation system (a system that legally obliges all medical institutions to treat patients enrolled in National Health Insurance) and enhance sustainability."