"The Most Important Task Is the Normalization of Medical School Education This Year"
"Policies Currently Being Pursued by the Presidential Commission on Medical Reform Should Also Be Halted"
The medical community has announced that it will review the government's upcoming medical school education measures for this year. It also emphasized that it has no intention of participating in government-led consultative bodies and that policies such as the government's reform plan for indemnity insurance should be halted.
Kim Taek-woo, President of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), is giving opening remarks at a press conference held at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at 3 p.m. on the 16th. Photo by Choi Tae-won
On the 16th at 3 p.m., Kim Taek-woo, president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), held a press conference at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, stating, "The most important task right now is the normalization of medical school education," and added, "A clear plan and policy must be prepared and announced so that the medical community can discuss medical school education plans, including the issue of medical school quotas for next year."
Regarding the government's medical school education measures expected to be announced around early February, he said, "An internal discussion is necessary to determine whether it is a method that can provide proper medical school education," and added, "After review, if there are points that need to be communicated to the government, we will do so."
Earlier, the Ministry of Education announced that it would prepare medical school education measures by early February at the latest. Since new student course registration begins in mid-February, the intention is to support the smooth implementation of first-year medical education for new and returning students before then.
However, when asked by reporters whether the increased quota for this year would be accepted, he only replied, "It is not a matter of acceptance or rejection, but whether education is possible or not."
He also clearly stated that there is no intention to participate in government-created consultative bodies such as the Medical Issues Consultative Body or the Presidential Commission on Medical Reform (Uigae Teukwi). President Kim said, "It is inappropriate for committees to be created abruptly. The policies currently being promoted by the Uigae Teukwi should also be stopped," emphasizing, "Such policies require long-term discussions and plans. I believe that the current Uigae Teukwi and similar bodies should be suspended."
He also argued that future dialogue with the government should focus on fundamental solutions rather than simply the number of medical school quotas. He said, "The biggest problem was that doctors avoid working in less preferred specialties, not just that medical school quotas should be increased," adding, "However, at some point, only the numbers were highlighted, and the essential discussions disappeared."
He emphasized strengthening communication with the public as well. President Kim said, "We reflected on the fact that we were unable to raise our voices together with the public and plan to enhance our promotional capabilities in the future," and added, "We want to emphasize that opposing the government's medical reform is not for doctors' interests but is a measure that helps public health and welfare finances."
Additionally, the KMA expressed a negative stance on the government's reform plans for indemnity insurance and non-reimbursable medical services. KMA spokesperson Kim Seong-geun said, "There are many problems with the policy direction that forcibly terminates private insurance contracts and forces switching, which is also pointed out by the economic sector," and added, "It is unreasonable to create a system related to indemnity insurance first without resolving issues related to non-reimbursable and reimbursable medical services."
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