NA burdened as dispute continues despite Gov-KMA agreement

Ruling and opposition parties to cooperate in preventing doctors’ nationwide strike and revising medical reform

As the dispute among medical community is deepening regardless of South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and Korean Medical Association (KMA) settling on an agreement, the National Assembly is now burdened with a grave responsibility to deliver the agreed terms and to fairly execute the medical reform plan.

 

The Young Doctors’ Emergency Committee representing medical interns, residents and fellows initially intended to protest against the government-medical organization agreement and to continue the collective strike.

 

But they decided to temporarily suspend the strike and return to their jobs on Sept.

 

6.

 

Nevertheless, the committee stresses the possibility of the young doctors going on a strike again at any time, if need be.

 

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed on establishing a Special Medical Reform Committee under the National Assembly.

 

Now, the both parties are expected to fully implement the agreement, and to calm the public and patient concerned about the agreement impeding the medical reform policy.

 

On Sept.

 

6, the National Assembly seems to be carefully observing the medical community’s reaction to the agreement signed between the government and the medical organization.

 

Especially, Chair Han Jeongae (Democratic) of Health and Welfare Committee, leading the mediation between the government and the medical professionals, is inevitably trying to read the air in political parties, civic and patient advocacy groups, as well as the medical community.

 

Some of the Democratic Party lawmakers have criticized KMA won the battle against the government, while civic and patient groups are reprimanding the ruling party for waving the white flag to doctors on strike that took patients as hostage.

 

Lawmaker Han said, "I disagree with the criticism that the ruling party raised the white flag.

 

Rather, the party has raised the white flag to the people and patients," and “The lawmakers would continue to discuss the issues regarding the medical reform.

 

And we would do our best to improve policies and regulations to execute measures stated on the government-KMA agreement.” The Young Doctors Emergency Committee, centering the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), has decided to temporarily hold back on the resistance against the agreement and to report back for duty.

 

However, the committee is firmly expressing its intention to take the collective action again as they would closely follow up with the lawmakers’ further support for the agreement.

 

The young doctors are willing to go on the nationwide strike again immediately, if the government and the National Assembly fail to keep their promises with the medical community.

 

The National Assembly is ultimately relieved the doctors halted the strike, but at the same time they now have serious task in their hands.

 

Particularly, the public’s attention would be focused on the Special Medical Reform Committee’s prospective approach as it would consist of both the ruling and opposition parties.

 

The initial implication the Special Committee would face is whether the committee would operate centering the ruling and opposition parties, or include the government and medical representatives.

 

An official from a ruling party lawmaker's office noted, “The ruling party was taken back for a moment as the medical interns, residents and fellows opposed so strongly, when KMA, Democratic Party and the government signed the agreement," but “with the agreement, the government, medical community and the lawmakers can now come together to overcome the COVID-19 epidemic.

 

The discussion on the medical reform can start from the scratch after we overcome the crisis.” The same official elaborated, "What the National Assembly can do right now is to form the Special Medical Reform Committee to sufficiently collect opinions from the medical community and the government." An official from the opposition party lawmaker also stated, "The party believes the lawmakers have done their job.

 

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed on the urgency of halting the medical reform talks and returning the doctors for their duty.

 

And also we are seeing eye-to-eye on arbitrating between the government and the medical community.” The official added, "The National Assembly cannot do anything about the conflict within the medical community escalated since KMA signed the agreement.

 

It is the medical community's job to arbitrate the conflicted community.

 

There is limitation to what lawmakers can do for them."