Begin dialogue soon

Gov’t, doctors must return to talks to seek compromise

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivered his third presidential address on Monday and spoke about efforts to find a way out of the government-doctor gridlock regarding his proposed plan to recruit more medical students starting next year. Despite the six-week-long walkout by 12,000 junior doctors, medical professors had remained steadfast, but have started to reduce their work hours.

Expressing regret for the first time for being “unable to promptly address the inconvenience felt by the public,” the president said the government would be open to talks if the doctors come up with a “unified proposal based on clear and scientific grounds.” However, Yoon noted a small caveat, mentioning that the government still deemed the addition of 2,000 students to the medical school admissions quota as the minimum necessary to “safeguard the lives and safety of our citizens.”

The president’s intentions were undoubtedly well-meaning, given the prolonged
medical crisis resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of surgeries and treatments. However, the delivery of his message was lengthy and staunchly defended his commitment to medical reform, beginning with the increase in the number of doctors. He spent a considerable portion of his time explaining why the government decided on 2,000 additional slots and how numerous talks were held with the medical community. He solemnly vowed to achieve what no previous administrations have done before in the last 27 years. In summary, it took some time to realize that he was willing to compromise and open to dialogue, as he eventually offered to engage in discussions.

A simpler, clearer and more concise message would have served the president better. However, officials from the ruling bloc, including interim leader Han Dong-hoon of the People Power Party and officials at the presidential office, have found themselves reiterating, more than two days after the address, that the government remains open to dialogue. They emp
hasized that the plan for an additional 2,000 students could be adjusted if doctors present more valid and rational proposals.

Doctors’ groups responded by criticizing the president, accusing him of giving them the cold shoulder. The Korean Medical Association’s emergency committee declared that it would not engage in talks unless there was a reversal on the medical student quota increase.

Let’s keep our hopes up that there’s still potential for dialogue between all concerned parties. The objective of enhancing frontline health care services by increasing the number of doctors and encouraging their service in critical areas like pediatrics, emergency care, and rural regions is crucial in Korea’s rapidly aging society. While similar efforts have been made in the past without much success, there are valuable lessons to be gleaned from previous attempts. With only 2.1 doctors per 1,000 people, Korea’s doctor-to-population ratio remains considerably lower than the OECD average of 3.7. The president emphasized t
hat if this trend persists, Korea could face a shortage of at least 10,000 doctors by 2035.

As the crisis continues, there has been a noticeable shift in public sentiment regarding the government’s stance on increasing the number of doctors. In a Gallup Korea poll conducted at the request of Seoul Economic Daily on March 28-29, 65 percent of respondents expressed the view that the enrollment quota should be adjusted. Only 31 percent of respondents supported adhering to the government’s initial proposal of adding 2,000 extra slots.

On March 30, a 33-month-old toddler in North Chungcheong Province died after the parents were unable to find an emergency hospital bed at several large hospitals. The survey illuminates the anxiety and fear felt by the public as they wait for the doctors to return to their places of work and hospitals to normalize their hours.

The doctors’ community has countered the government plan, saying that more doctors will not necessarily resolve the issues and that the medical schools cur
rently are not ready to train such large numbers of incoming students.

Reforming crucial public sectors like health care requires collaborative efforts and cannot be accomplished unilaterally or quickly. Both the government and the medical community must engage in dialogue with public representatives, as proposed by the president in his address.

Source: Yonhap News Agency