On the 31st, Kim Taek-woo, president of the Korean Medical Association Organization, said, "Because 2026 is the golden time to rebuild the collapsed medical system, we will focus all our capabilities on normalizing health care and preparing for future medicine."
In a New Year's address that day, Kim said, "It will take at least five to 10 years to set right the medical system that collapsed due to the medical-government standoff, and now is the golden time for normalizing health care when not even a single minute or second can be wasted."
Kim said, "The medical community has gone through a long tunnel of an unprecedented medical-government standoff," adding, "As residents and medical students return to the sites of learning and training, we are at the starting line of recovery, but because the overall medical system has been badly damaged, it will take considerable time to normalize."
He continued, "Since its launch, the 43rd executive board has focused on setting right the foundation of the health care system that collapsed and creating an environment where young doctors can take pride and participate in essential care and regional care," explaining, "We have worked to restore communication with the government and the National Assembly, and to rebuild trust with the media and various sectors of society."
However, Kim expressed strong concern about the medical policies the government and the National Assembly have recently been pursuing. He said, "Reforms to the consignment system for laboratory tests, designation of management benefits, the issue of unstable supply of pharmaceuticals, attempts by Korean medicine doctors to use X-rays, and hasty discussions on establishing new medical schools are measures that run counter to the trend of normalizing health care," noting, "If such policies are repeated, they could lead to a second medical crisis."
He also said, "Measures that claim to save regional care and essential care are being presented while ignoring structural problems such as low fees, excessive workloads, and recurring legal risk," emphasizing, "Rather than forcibly increasing medical personnel, priority should be given to building the infrastructure and clinical environment where medical professionals can stay for the long term."
In addition, Kim said, "The Korean Medical Association Organization is proactively responding to the rapidly changing medical environment, including the spread of artificial intelligence and telemedicine, through the Special Committee on Future Medicine," adding, "We will establish medical safety standards and a system for maintaining professionalism befitting the AI era, and take the lead in establishing an integrated care model in preparation for a super-aged society."