Gov't dangles carrot before doctors with 'one-on-one' talks offer

Social Affairs

Published: 02 May. 2024, 18:03

Gov't dangles carrot before doctors with 'one-on-one' talks offer

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, right, speaks at a Central Disaster Management Headquarters meeting on Thursday. [MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE]

The government is willing to engage in “one-on-one” dialogue with doctors, separate from a presidential special committee inaugurated last week, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said Thursday.

Speaking at a Central Disaster Management Headquarters meeting on the same day, the minister urged doctors to “proactively engage in a dialogue” with the government to "make progress."

Cho’s remarks appear aimed at motivating doctors to join negotiations as the country’s largest doctors’ group — the Korean Medical Association (KMA) — has insisted on exclusive talks and refused participation in the committee.

On Thursday, the government began accepting applications from hospitals willing to pilot a workhour-reduction program for junior doctors, aiming to mitigate their burden.

Junior doctors cite overwork as the most critical factor undermining the quality of their learning experience.

Participating hospitals should shorten the extended work hours per shift from today’s 36 hours to between 24 and 30 hours and exercise flexibility in deciding work schedules and other arrangements.

In return, the hospitals will be exempt from an annual administrative inspection from the national authorities.

The president of the Korean Medical Association, Lim Hyun-taek, gives an inaugural address on Thursday at the association's headquarters in Yongsan District, central Seoul. [YONHAP]

Even as the government offered sweeteners, the new leader of the KMA on the same day promised to “uphold doctors’ rights” and “fix unreasonable medical policies, including a 2,000-seat hike in medical schools’ admissions.”

The president of the KMA, Lim Hyun-taek, labeled the government’s policy of expanding enrollment size as an “unreasonable policy and manipulative action disrupting health care and education” during his inaugural speech.

Lim added that he shoulders “heavy responsibility in handling the crisis that doctors face today,” referring to doctors' ongoing protests against the government’s plan to expand medical school enrollments, with junior doctors walking out and on-duty doctors suffering fatigue due to heavier workloads.

Lim said he “respects” the Seoul High Court’s order on Tuesday, which demanded the government submit scientific evidence and meeting records backing the 2,000-seat expansion in medical school admissions. The decision also “put the brakes on” the government’s effort to nail down enrollment quotas in medical schools.

He also called for “unity and solidarity among doctors,” adding that “discord between doctors is what the government wants.”

His remarks suggest the KMA will not cater to the government’s demands or hopes.

His inaugural remarks also seemingly address recent rumors of a potential rift between junior doctors and the KMA.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lim floated a plan to form a consultative body with junior doctors, medical professors and medical students.

However, the head of the Korean Intern Resident Association, Park Dan, said “nothing has been discussed” about the plan. Park did not attend Lim's inaugural ceremony on Thursday.

Lim also underscored that the KMA would provide systematic support to prevent doctors from becoming embroiled in malpractice lawsuits, saying his foremost duty is to protect doctors' rights.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]