KIRA Visits Patient Group, Apologizes to Public for Inconvenience Caused by Prolonged Medical-Government Conflict

KIRA Visits Patient Advocacy Group
Apologizes for Prolonged Conflict and Pledges to Restore Trust
Patient Group Urges Residents Not to Use Patients' Lives as Leverage Again

The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) visited a patient advocacy group on the 28th to apologize to the public for the inconvenience caused by the prolonged conflict between the medical community and the government.

Hansungjon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Resident Doctors Association, is having a conversation with Ahn Gijong, President of the Korea Patient Organization Federation, at the office of the Korea Patient Organization Federation in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News

Han Sungjon, head of the KIRA emergency response committee, met with representatives of the patient group at the office of the Korea Alliance of Patient Organizations in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the same day. He stated, "We sincerely apologize to the public for the inconvenience and anxiety caused by the conflict between the medical community and the government, which has lasted for more than one year and five months." He added, "We believe that the medical community is not free from responsibility for the prolonged nature of this situation."

He continued, "I also deeply apologize, as a young doctor and a member of Korean society, for the distress caused to the public by the inappropriate remarks and actions of some doctors who have represented and led the medical community." He added, "We will strive to fulfill our social responsibilities based on our expertise and work to create a better medical environment."

He further stated, "For a long time, both the public and the medical community have suffered and gone through difficult times," and added, "We agree that such incidents must not happen again."

He also pledged to rebuild the future of healthcare based on trust. Han said, "As we experienced under the previous administration, nothing can be resolved through all sorts of illegal orders, excessive regulations, and oppression." He continued, "Young doctors like us also recognize the need to rebuild critical care and address regional healthcare imbalances. Therefore, what we need going forward is to reconstruct the future of Korea's healthcare system based on restored trust."

The patient group emphasized that such a situation must not be repeated. Ahn Kijong, head of the Korea Alliance of Patient Organizations, said, "The government and the ruling party are focusing only on the return of residents, who are responsible for the medical vacuum, but they lack interest in improving systems or legislation to remedy patient harm and prevent recurrence."

He also urged the residents, "Please promise never to use patients' lives as a means to oppose government policy again," and added, "You must restore trust through unconditional and voluntary return."