The medical training council discussing the return of residents held its first meeting on the 25th. Residents left the hospital collectively in February of last year, submitting their resignations, and are now discussing their return. Residents are demanding improvements in training conditions.
Second Vice Minister Lee Hyung-hoon noted, "We will prepare a plan for the return of residents that meets the public's expectations," and added, "I ask for your cooperation in normalizing the medical system." He also stated, "Diagnosis and treatment of diseases are the responsibility of medical professionals, while healthcare laws and systems involve the National Assembly, government, and citizens," adding that "the Ministry of Health and Welfare will listen to and gather opinions related to laws and systems."
Chairperson Han Seong-jun of the Korean Association of Resident Physicians (KARPS) expressed, "I'm glad a substantial dialogue platform has been provided," and said, "We will keep all possibilities open and ensure constructive discussions take place." Earlier, KARPS demanded three conditions for the return of residents: improvements in training environments, assurance of continuity, and a review of the essential healthcare package policy of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, along with a request to reduce the legal burdens related to medical accidents.
Residents are seeking improvements in the working conditions of training hospitals and request to be allowed to return to their previous hospital and specialty after being discharged from military service. They believe the essential healthcare package policy, which prohibits mixed treatment of paid and unpaid services, needs to be reconsidered. They argue that since unpaid services are a primary revenue source for private practitioners, mixed treatment should be permitted. Additionally, they demand a reduction in legal burdens if unintended medical accidents occur.
Chairperson Yoo Hee-cheol of the Training Environment Assessment Committee expressed, "The situations of medical students, medical schools, residents, hospitals, and professors are all different," and hoped that diverse opinions would be gathered to derive a plan that could normalize medical education and residency training, which has been suspended for a year and a half. Vice Chairperson Park Jung-shin of the Korean Medical Association remarked, "I think it's fortunate that a clue to resolution seems to be emerging after a long period of difficulties."