Seoul, Jan 9 (NationPress) The health ministry of South Korea expressed optimism on Thursday about initiating discussions with the newly elected chief of the nation's premier doctors' association, as the deadlock over medical reform continues.
Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo made this statement during a government meeting following the election of Kim Taek-woo as the new president of the Korean Medical Association the day before, according to a report from Yonhap news agency.
Kim has taken a strong position against increasing the quota for medical schools.
"We aspire to conduct face-to-face discussions to swiftly resolve the discord between the government and the medical sector," Park stated.
"The public desires the restoration of the nation's medical system, and I believe there exists a mutual understanding between the government and the medical community," Park added.
In contrast, Kim highlighted the necessity for the government to adopt a more proactive approach.
"The president who advocated this policy is currently unavailable, and it has become apparent that the medical reform plan is flawed," Kim remarked following his election. "The government must cease its obstinacy and terminate this policy."
Since February of last year, thousands of trainee doctors have been absent from their positions due to mass resignations, urging the government to reevaluate the proposed increase in the medical school quota from the ground up.
The government has resolved to boost the number of medical school slots by 1,500 for the year 2025, as part of a broader initiative to augment the total by approximately 2,000 over the next five years to remedy a physician shortage.
