Resident Training Council Launched... Discussions on Return Plan to Begin August 1

"Plans to Meet Public Expectations"
Regular Meetings to Be Held Every Friday

The Training Council, established to facilitate the return of resident doctors who resigned, held its first meeting. The government has stated its intention to devise a plan for the return of residents that meets public expectations. Detailed discussions are expected to begin at the second meeting, scheduled for August 1.

Lee Hyunghoon, 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare (first from the left), is delivering the opening remarks at the first training council meeting held on the morning of the 25th at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Taewon

Lee Hyunghoon, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated in his opening remarks at the first meeting of the Training Council, held on the morning of July 25 at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, "With the regular recruitment of residents for the second half of the year approaching, we convened the Training Council to create conditions that will allow residents to return to the medical field." He added, "The council will communicate and cooperate to develop a plan for the return of residents that aligns with public expectations."

He further stated, "Diagnosis and treatment of diseases are the responsibility of doctors and medical professionals, while healthcare laws and systems are the domain of the National Assembly, the government, and the public." He continued, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare will listen to and gather opinions on legal and institutional matters from the public's perspective. We ask for the cooperation of the medical community through the council to normalize the healthcare system."

Attendees at the meeting included Vice Minister Lee, Kim Kukil, Director of Healthcare Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Yoo Heecheol, Chair of the Training Environment Evaluation Committee, Kim Wonseop, President of the Korean Association of Training Hospitals, Park Joongsin, Vice President of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, Han Sungjon, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association, and Kim Donggeon, a member of the Emergency Response Committee of the same association.

Chair Yoo Heecheol said, "Medical students, medical schools, residents, hospitals, and even professors in charge of education all face different situations, environments, and have different opinions." He continued, "I hope that these diverse opinions will be well integrated, so that medical education and resident training, which have been suspended for a year and a half, can quickly return to normal. I also hope that a policy decision can be reached through our collective efforts."

Han Sungjon, Chair of the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association, said, "It has not even been a week since the last general assembly, so I am truly relieved that a forum for practical dialogue has been established so quickly." He added, "I hope a structure will be created that can reflect the voices from the field, and I will strive to ensure that constructive discussions take place with all possibilities open."

Previously, the Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association had presented three demands through its general assembly: the formation of a council led by field experts to review the essential healthcare policy package of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration; improvement of the resident training environment and assurance of training continuity; and the establishment of a body to discuss the reduction of legal burdens related to medical accidents.

During the closed-door portion of the meeting, participants agreed on the need to improve the resident training environment and exchanged views regarding the recruitment of residents for the second half of the year. After the meeting, Han Sungjon told reporters, "The government listened attentively to the opinions of the Emergency Response Committee."

However, it was reported that no concrete discussions on specific plans for the return of residents took place during this meeting. Kim Kukil, Director of Healthcare Policy, said, "Since this was the first meeting, we decided to address sensitive topics starting from the next meeting," and added, "We did not discuss specific matters today."

Meanwhile, the Training Council will hold regular meetings every Friday. The second meeting is scheduled for August 1.