Consultative Body Begins Full Operation
Recruitment Notice for Second Half Expected Next Week
The public-private consultative body established to facilitate the return of resigned resident doctors will hold its second meeting.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on July 31 that it would hold the second meeting of the Residency Training Consultative Body together with the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) and other organizations in the morning, to discuss improvements to the residency training environment and measures for the return of resident doctors.
The Residency Training Consultative Body is a public-private consultative group launched on July 25 to create conditions that would allow resident doctors to return to the medical field. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, KIRA as the direct stakeholders, the Residency Environment Evaluation Committee, the Korean Association of Teaching Hospitals, and the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences are participating.
At the first meeting last week, participants agreed on the need to improve the residency training environment and exchanged opinions regarding the recruitment of residents for the second half of the year. They also shared the view that, since there is little time left before the start of the second half of the residency in September, discussions on the details must proceed quickly.
Accordingly, at the second meeting on this day, the specific demands of KIRA's Emergency Response Committee will be heard, and discussions are expected to begin in earnest on how and to what extent these demands can be accommodated.
Previously, KIRA's Emergency Response Committee presented three demands: the formation of a consultative body centered on field experts to review the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's essential medical policy package; improvement of the residency training environment and ensuring continuity of training; and the establishment of a discussion body to alleviate the legal burden regarding medical accidents. While they have not officially requested 'special measures' for the return of residents, there are voices among resident doctors calling for measures such as postponement of military service for those who have not yet served, or guarantees that those discharged from military service can return to their original training hospitals, in order to ensure continuity of training.
The government has stated that it will actively consult with KIRA and other medical organizations, but maintains the principle that any return measures must meet 'public expectations.' A Ministry of Health and Welfare official said, "We plan to announce the recruitment notice before August 8," and added, "We will listen in detail to the demands of the resident doctors and work to ensure that the measures developed meet public expectations."
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