Debate within the Health and Welfare Committee members

on the responsibility for conflicts between the medical community and the gvt

DPK says "Government must admit its failure in policy"…the ruling party says "It’s a political attack"

A questioning session regarding the current healthcare matter is expected during a meeting with the MOHW on July 16th.

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea and the ruling party who are also committee members of the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly show significant differences in viewpoints regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol’s policy of expanding medical school quotas, and the current situation surrounding the conflict between the medical community and the government, and the medical crisis.

 

The ruling party argues that the National Assembly must support the government’s medical reforms to increase the number of doctors and help essential and regional medical services.

 

The Democratic Party of Korea argues that the government must first clearly take responsibility for the medical exodus caused by forced expansion.

 

As the viewpoints of the ruling and opposition parties diverge on government's medical reforms, such as increasing the medical school quota, it has become increasingly difficult to establish a bipartisan deliberation committee to resolve conflicts between the medical community and the government.

 

On July 9th, members of the People Power Party and the Democratic Party, who are committee members of the Health and Welfare Committee, held a separate press conference and criticized the other party.

 

The Democratic Party says, "The government must admit to causing the medical community-gvt conflicts and medical crisis" During the press conference, the Democratic Party condemned the People Power Party's withdrawal from adopting a bipartisan resolution and opposing the specification of 'government responsibility during the emergency hearing on the medical crisis.

 

They argue that the People Power Party is responsible for the 13-hour hearing without a result or resolution.

 

The Democratic Party argued that the Presidential Special Committee on Medical Reforms is clearly limited in capacity and appealed for the need to establish a public discussion committee on medical reforms involving both parties, the government and experts.

 

Kang Sunwoo, Secretary of the Democratic Party, said, "We are disappointed in the ruling party's refusal to take even minimal responsibility to correct the government's clear policy failures." He emphasized, "The People Power Party held a superficial hearing in Yongsan, not for the people." The People Power Party says, "Medical reforms, both parties must collaborate instead of political conflicts" In the afternoon of the same day, the People Power Party held a press conference to refute the Democratic Party's claims.

 

The party asserted that the Democratic Party is politicizing medical reforms to improve essential healthcare and regional healthcare into a political issue.

 

The People Power Party said that previously, the Democratic Party government had pursued increasing medical school admissions but was hindered by opposition from the medical community.

 

They emphasized that achieving medical reforms, a challenging task, requires collaborative efforts across government administrations, regardless of political affiliation.

 

They argued that the Democratic Party must stop arguing if it hopes to resolve the medical crisis quickly and improve essential and regional healthcare.

 

Kim Miae, Secretary of the People Power Party, said, "Instead of addressing patient anxiety caused by trainee doctors leaving and medical staff going on strike, the Democratic Party, during a press conference, claimed that the ruling party unilaterally rejected the resolution." She added, "The Democratic Party is trying to politicize the current situation and emphasize only government responsibility as a tactic.

 

We must put joint efforts into problem-solving rather than politicizing the issue." Meanwhile, the Health and Welfare Committee will commence a general meeting on the upcoming 16th and listen to work reports from the government departments, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

 

During the meeting, the Democratic Party of Korea and the ruling party are expected to participate in questioning and discussion to formulate a solution to resolve the conflict between the medical community and the government and the medical crisis.