KMA: Forcing Estimation Committee Formation Is a Tactic to Divide the Medical Community

"If Suspicions Persist, We Will Correct Them Until the End"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has strongly protested against the government's attempt to receive recommendations for members of the Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee (Estimation Committee) from physician organizations other than the KMA.

On the 20th, participants of the "National Doctors' Rally for Medical Normalization" hosted by the Korean Medical Association near Sungnyemun in Jung-gu, Seoul, are condemning the government's medical school expansion policy and the operation of the Special Committee on Medical Reform on Sejong-daero. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 29th, the KMA stated in a press release, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare has denied the clear fact, repeatedly mentioned during the legislative review process, that the KMA is the representative organization of healthcare providers, and has sent official letters requesting recommendations for committee members to other physician organizations besides the KMA." "We sent an official request to the Ministry asking them to clarify the criteria for organizations eligible to recommend members, the number of appointments, and the final selection process for committee members, but the Ministry ignored and disregarded the KMA to the end without any response."

The statement continued, "Because the Ministry sent recommendation letters to physician organizations other than the KMA, these organizations now face a confusing situation where they must respond to the Ministry in order to reflect the voices of their members and strengthen their own positions," adding, "This is a typical and cowardly tactic aimed at dividing the medical community."

The KMA further emphasized, "While we will actively cooperate to resolve the medical crisis, if suspicions persist up to the final appointment of committee members, we will continue to point out and correct the problems until the end."

The Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) also released a statement on the same day, saying, "Ensuring transparency in the recommendation and selection process for committee members is essential to guarantee the legitimacy of the Estimation Committee and the credibility of future policy decisions." The committee proposed, "The qualifications for those with the right to recommend, as well as the criteria and procedures for selecting committee members, should be clearly defined and stipulated in the enforcement decree and rules."

Previously, the Ministry of Health and Welfare sent official letters to medical organizations such as the KMA, the Korean Hospital Association, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, KIRA, the National Council of Medical School Professors, and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate Schools, as well as to consumer and patient organizations, and health and medical societies and research institutes, requesting recommendations for committee members by the previous day. It is reported that most organizations and institutions, except for the KMA, recommended committee members to the Ministry within the deadline.

The KMA, taking issue with the Ministry sending official letters to other physician organizations, including those under the KMA, did not recommend any candidates and requested the Ministry to extend the recommendation deadline by one week.