Government aims for dialogue with doctors’ association to end medical reform deadlock in south korea

Seoul (The Uttam Hindu): South Korea’s health ministry is hopeful for a resolution to the ongoing deadlock over medical reform and aims to engage in talks with the newly elected head of the country’s top doctors' association, the Korean Medical Association (KMA). Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo expressed optimism about opening direct discussions with Kim Taek-woo, the new president of the KMA, elected just the day before. Park highlighted the government’s desire for face-to-face talks to resolve the conflict between the medical community and the government, especially concerning the controversial proposal to increase the medical school quota.

Kim, who has strongly opposed the plan to expand medical school seats, called for a change in the government's position. "The president who introduced this policy is currently absent, and it has become clear that the medical reform plan was flawed," Kim remarked after his election. "The government should stop being stubborn and end this policy." The dispute began last year when thousands of trainee doctors across South Korea resigned in protest against the government's plan to increase the medical school quota. The medical community has urged the government to reconsider the proposal, which aims to raise the number of medical school seats by 1,500 in 2025 and by about 2,000 over five years to address a doctor shortage.

Despite the challenges, local emergency rooms have continued to operate without significant disruptions, thanks to the resilience of healthcare professionals. The health ministry’s hope is that through dialogue with the KMA, both the government and the medical community can reach a mutual agreement, restoring normalcy to South Korea’s medical system. The situation underscores the delicate balance between healthcare policy and the interests of the medical profession.