Chairman Noh Yeon-hong: "The Last Golden Time for Medical Reform... Doctors and Residents Must Put Their Heads Together"

Special Committee on Medical Reform Convenes
Deliberation on the "Second Phase of Medical Reform Implementation Plan"

No Yeonhong, Chairman of the Presidential Special Committee on Medical Reform, clearly expressed his determination to push forward with medical reform, stating, "It is difficult to halt or completely scrap the medical reform. We will complete the reform."

Noh Yeon-hong, Chairman of the Medical Reform Special Committee, is attending and speaking at the plenary meeting of the Medical Reform Special Committee held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno, Seoul on the 19th. The meeting was attended by Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, and Kim Byung-hwan, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission. 2025.3.19 Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the 19th, the Special Committee held its 8th meeting at the Government Seoul Office to report on the results of the previous meeting and discuss the second phase of the medical reform implementation plan.

In his opening remarks, Chairman No said, "Medical reform has moved beyond slogans and entered the implementation phase with the public's interest and support, as well as the government's strong will and backing. Structural changes in all tertiary hospitals have begun, and the fees for essential medical fields, numbering around 1,000, have been normalized." He added, "In the second implementation plan, we will boldly and swiftly promote policies that will transform the medical field by discussing reform tasks that have been delayed amid various issues and conflicts, such as appropriate management of non-reimbursable services, reform of indemnity insurance, and establishment of a medical accident safety net."

Regarding demands from the medical community, including medical students and residents, to halt the reform, he asserted, "We must not miss the last 'golden time' for medical reform given to our society," and emphasized, "It is difficult to stop or completely scrap the medical reform."

Chairman No pointed out, "The goal of medical reform is to create a new Republic of Korea medical system that medical students and young doctors dream of," and added, "We cannot return to the past while leaving the dark sides of our medical system?such as low fees, endless competition, a survival-of-the-fittest healthcare delivery system, and insufficient investment in education and training?untouched." He further stated, "We will do our best to complete the medical reform to create a society where all citizens can use medical services with peace of mind anytime and anywhere, and where essential medical field personnel can work with pride."

Addressing medical associations and resident groups that have refused to participate in the Special Committee, he requested, "Joining the discussion for future generations is truly the way to support medical students and residents," and urged, "If there are problems, we can sit together, discuss, and resolve them. Please provide reasonable expert opinions during the reform implementation process."