The National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee audit begins on the 14th. It is not only the first since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, but also the first Health and Welfare Committee audit since the medical-government conflict triggered by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's policy to increase medical school admissions was tentatively resolved with the return of residents and medical students, drawing intense attention.
According to the National Assembly on the 13th, the Health and Welfare Committee will audit 44 affiliated agencies, starting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 14th and 15th. The National Health Insurance Service and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) will be audited on the 17th, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 21st. The committee called 11 general witnesses and 37 reference witnesses to address various issues related to each agency.
◇ Debate expected over follow-up measures to the medical-government conflict
This audit is expected to largely address the administration's agenda to strengthen regional, essential, and public health care, a key state task of the Lee Jae-myung government. Given the differences between the medical community and the government over follow-up measures after the conflict, the establishment of a public medical school, the introduction of a regional physician system, and staffing plans to fill regional medical gaps, debates are expected.
To examine each issue, the committee called Yang Dong-heon, president of Kyungpook National University Hospital, and Jeong-sin, president of Chonnam National University Hospital, as well as Lee Se-yong, president of Busan Medical Center, as reference witnesses. Yoo Cheong-jun, chairperson of the National Residents Labor Union, and Han Seong-john, acting chairperson of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), were also called as reference witnesses and are expected to be questioned about improving residents' training environments and the background to forming the union.
Another major issue in the pharmaceutical sector this year, the opening of warehouse-style pharmacies, will also be a focus of the audit. Since the nation's first warehouse-style pharmacy opened in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in Jun., it has shown signs of spreading nationwide, prompting strong opposition from pharmacists.
Public opinion is divided. Consumers support them because drug prices are cheaper than at regular pharmacies, but the medical community opposes them, saying they could exacerbate side effects such as drug misuse and polarization among pharmacies. Kim Yun, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, spearheaded a bill to regulate the opening of warehouse-style pharmacies. Kwon Young-hee, president of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, is expected to appear at the National Assembly as a reference witness on the 15th and argue for stronger regulations on the opening of warehouse-style pharmacies by oriental pharmacists.
◇ Head of investor in physician community also to appear
A specimen testing error by GC Labs under the GC Biopharma group, which stirred controversy this year, is also expected to come under scrutiny. Lee Sang-gon, head director of GC Labs, will appear as a witness. Two specimens entrusted to GC Labs were switched due to an employee's mistake, leading to a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer, only for a retest to show she did not have breast cancer.
Oh Kyoung-suk, CEO of Dunamu, which operates the virtual asset exchange Upbit, will also appear as a reference witness for the committee audit. Committee members plan to question Dunamu about its investment background in Medistaff, a physician community site. This year, Dunamu acquired an 18.29% equity stake in Medistaff for 4.3 billion won. Previously, some members on Medistaff were accused of encouraging residents to resign during the conflict, doxxing doctors and medical students who supported government policy, and stigmatizing returning residents, sparking controversy.
Other key issues expected to be addressed include institutionalizing telemedicine, the financial soundness of the National Pension Service and the national health insurance, the need to expand coverage for high-priced anticancer drugs and treatments for rare diseases, and measures to eradicate illegal broker-run hospitals. A comprehensive audit will be held on the 30th.