After the Prime Minister, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Also Engages with Medical Community... Accelerating Search for Government-Medical Solutions

Lee Hyunhoon, 2nd Vice Minister, gathers opinions on normalizing the medical system, including the return of residents
Prime Minister Kim Minseok agrees with the request to "prevent medical school tripling"

Under the Lee Jaemyung administration, the atmosphere for dialogue aimed at resolving conflicts between the government and the medical community is ripening. Following the Prime Minister's meeting with representatives of residents and medical students, the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare also held consecutive meetings with medical organizations to exchange opinions.

Lee Hyunhoon, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare (right), is shaking hands with Kim Taekwoo, the President of the Korean Medical Association, on the 8th at the Korean Medical Association located in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Health and Welfare

According to the medical community on July 9, Lee Hyunhoon, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, held a series of closed-door meetings on the previous morning, starting with the Korean Medical Association (KMA), followed by the Korean Hospital Association and the Korean Nurses Association. Although these meetings were in the form of an initial courtesy call after Vice Minister Lee's appointment, it was also the first time since the medical school quota expansion dispute erupted in February of last year that the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, who is responsible for healthcare policy, visited the KMA.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare explained, "This on-site visit was conducted to share key issues with each association and major healthcare organizations, and to strengthen communication and cooperation on overall healthcare policy," adding, "We gathered opinions on various issues, including measures to normalize the medical system such as the return of residents."

At the meeting, Vice Minister Lee said, "When implementing policies, I will listen carefully to the difficulties and suggestions from the field and reflect them in policy. I will also actively communicate and cooperate with each association," requesting cooperation for the smooth implementation of policies.

The KMA also stated in a press release after the meeting, "We exchanged opinions to resolve the current medical crisis as quickly as possible," and added, "There was a consensus that communication based on trust is necessary to protect public health."

Kim Taekwoo, President of the KMA, said, "Vice Minister Lee is someone with deep understanding and interest in the healthcare sector, and with both expertise and a willingness to communicate, constructive cooperation with the medical community is expected. As high-ranking government officials such as the Prime Minister and Vice Minister continue to engage in dialogue with the medical community, the consensus to make joint efforts based on trust and communication is spreading. Going forward, we will actively promote the normalization of the medical system through dialogue between the government and the medical community."

Earlier, on the evening of July 7, Prime Minister Kim Minseok met with President Kim Taekwoo, Han Sungjon, Emergency Committee Chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association, and Lee Sunwoo, Emergency Committee Chair of the Korean Medical Student Association. At this meeting, there was a consensus on the need for residents to return to their training sites, as well as the necessity to prevent the so-called 'tripling' situation, where students from the 24th, 25th, and 26th medical school classes would have to attend classes together.

Meanwhile, starting with this visit, Vice Minister Lee plans to continue on-site communication by visiting additional healthcare organizations, including the Association of Korean Medicine, the Korean Dental Association, and the Korean Pharmaceutical Association. Vice Minister Lee said, "The government will continue to develop healthcare policies and maintain close communication with the field based on trust with the medical community, so as to protect the lives and health of the public. We will continue to listen, communicate, and cooperate."