Doctors and Korean Medicine Doctors' 'X-ray War' Intensifies

Doctors vs. Korean Medicine Doctors Clash Over Medical Service Act Amendment
Association of Korean Medicine: "Necessary to Promote Public Health and Ensure Patient Choice"
Korean Medical Association: "Mobilizing All Efforts to Block the Three Ma

The conflict between doctors and Korean medicine doctors is intensifying over a bill that would allow Korean medicine doctors to use X-ray machines. Medical associations are strongly opposing the measure, arguing that "Korean medicine doctors' use of X-rays is dangerous due to a lack of scientific verification and expertise," while Korean medicine doctors counter that this is "anachronistic professional self-interest."

According to the medical community on October 27, the Korean Medical Association held an extraordinary general assembly at its headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Saturday, October 25, and declared, "We will make every effort to block ingredient-based prescriptions, the allowance of X-ray use by Korean medicine doctors, and the reform of the specimen testing consignment system."

Ingredient-based prescription refers to a system in which doctors prescribe medicines by their active ingredients instead of brand names, and pharmacists choose one product containing that ingredient for dispensing. Currently, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering introducing ingredient-based prescriptions only for essential medicines with unstable supply. As for X-ray use by Korean medicine doctors, the debate was reignited when lawmakers from the ruling party recently proposed a partial amendment to the Medical Service Act to allow this. The government is also pushing for a reform that would abolish the management fee paid to consignment testing institutions (hospitals and clinics) and instead have both consignment and commissioned institutions (testing centers) bill separately for testing costs.

The Korean Medical Association referred to these policies as the "three major evil laws and practices that will lead to the collapse of the healthcare system," stating, "We will mobilize all available means and methods to block these measures and will not back down unless we succeed."

Korean Medical Association: "Allowing X-rays for Korean medicine doctors shakes the foundation of the healthcare system"

Among these, the amendment to the Medical Service Act allowing Korean medicine doctors to use X-rays centers on changing the regulations regarding the person responsible for the safety management of diagnostic radiology equipment. Under the current law, the founders of medical institutions who install radiology equipment must appoint a safety manager as stipulated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the qualifications for this role are limited to doctors, dentists, and radiologic technologists.

However, the amendment would allow the founder or manager of a medical institution to serve as the safety manager if radiology equipment is installed. In other words, in medical institutions established by Korean medicine doctors, the Korean medicine doctor could serve as the safety manager and use X-rays and similar equipment.

In response, the Korean Medical Association called it "a fatal provocation that puts public health and safety at risk." Kim Taekwoo, president of the Korean Medical Association, stated, "According to the Medical Service Act, Korean medicine doctors are only permitted to perform traditional Korean medical practices, and their use of X-rays clearly constitutes unlicensed medical practice." He further pointed out, "X-ray machines require a high level of expertise and anatomical knowledge, as well as radiation shielding facilities and radiologic technologists." On October 23, about 20 executives from the Korean Society of Radiology and the Korean Medical Association's Special Committee on Korean Medicine held a protest in front of the Bucheon office of Seo Youngseok, the Democratic Party lawmaker who proposed the amendment.

Although debates over Korean medicine doctors' use of medical devices have been ongoing for years, the issue reignited earlier this year when the Suwon District Court acquitted a Korean medicine doctor charged with violating the Medical Service Act for using an X-ray-based bone densitometer in clinical practice. The court ruled in the second trial that "it is difficult to conclude that Article 10 of the regulations on the safety management of diagnostic radiology equipment limits who can use such equipment."

After the prosecution dropped its appeal and the acquittal became final, the Association of Korean Medicine pointed out, "Legally, there is no problem with Korean medicine doctors using X-rays or installing them in clinics, but it is contradictory that 'Korean medicine doctor' is omitted from the list of qualified safety managers." The association has been demanding that Korean medicine doctors be included as eligible safety managers, arguing that since X-ray interpretation is taught throughout the curriculum at Korean medicine universities, there is no problem with Korean medicine doctors using X-rays.

The Association of Korean Medicine also pointed out that currently, patients visiting Korean medicine clinics for sprains or fractures must go to a hospital for an X-ray to receive an accurate diagnosis, then return to the Korean medicine clinic for treatment such as acupuncture, resulting in double medical expenses. The association asserted, "Allowing Korean medicine doctors to use X-rays is a timely demand to ensure patient safety and the right to choose their treatment," and urged the immediate passage of the bill. Anticipating that the use of X-rays by Korean medicine doctors will soon become widespread, the association has also established and begun operating its own "Safety Management Education for Diagnostic Radiology in Korean Medicine" program.

The controversy is now spreading beyond medical associations to the related industry. Earlier this month, some medical device companies demanded, "It has already been half a year since the court ruling legalized X-ray use by Korean medicine doctors. Please abolish the regulations that still block Korean medicine doctors from using X-rays." In response, the Korean Society of Radiology and the Korean Society of Radiologists issued statements, arguing, "It is dangerous to demand that illegal acts be tolerated for the sake of industrial competitiveness, as this prioritizes economic interests over public safety. The medical law system for protecting public health must be upheld."