Position Adjusted and Delivered to the Office of the President
The Korean Medical Student Association (KMSA) has expressed hope for dialogue regarding the appointment of the new Minister and Vice Minister of Health and Welfare by the new administration.
On June 30, the KMSA released a statement, noting that Jeong Eun-kyeong, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, emphasized communication in her remarks immediately after her nomination. The association stated, "KMSA also intends to actively engage in dialogue and communication with the new administration for the same purpose." In her remarks, nominee Jeong stated, "I will swiftly resolve conflicts between the medical community and the government through sincere communication and cooperation."
Previously, the government nominated Jeong Eun-kyeong, a former head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and a physician who led the country's COVID-19 response, as the candidate for Minister of Health and Welfare. For the position of Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, Lee Hyunghoon, head of the Korea Public Organization Bank, who led the 2023 bilateral consultative body between the government and the medical community, was appointed.
The KMSA also stated, "Now that the Minister has been nominated and the Vice Minister appointed, we hope that the forum for dialogue will open quickly," adding, "Since Vice Minister Lee has experience operating the medical-government consultative body, we believe that dialogue and negotiations between the medical community and the government can begin even before the Minister is formally appointed."
The association continued, "Last week, in order to resolve the situation promptly, we adjusted our previous position and conveyed it to the Office of the President," adding, "In response, it was agreed that practical discussions would continue in the future."
The KMSA is currently making eight demands to the government: complete withdrawal of the essential medical package and the plan to increase medical school admissions; establishment of healthcare governance with equal representation from the medical community and the government; investigation and apology for the hasty implementation of medical policies; introduction of a system for medical accidents that considers the unique nature of medical practice; establishment of a rational medical fee system; improvement of the healthcare delivery system; enhancement of training environments; and withdrawal of the abuse of public authority regarding leaves of absence.
The KMSA added, "We have categorized the eight demands according to their urgency and delivered them accordingly."
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