Jeong Eun-kyeong, the Minister of Health and Welfare, apologized to patients and the public, who were the biggest victims of the medical and government conflict. The government and the medical community have reached an agreement on the return plan of resigned medical residents. With the pathway cleared for these residents to return to hospitals, the protracted conflict that lasted for a year and six months has come to an end.
On the 7th, Minister Jeong expressed her apologies at a ‘Patient and Consumer Organization Meeting’ held at the Samseong Life Insurance building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Minister Jeong stated, “I sincerely apologize to the patients and citizens who experienced a great deal of anxiety and inconvenience as the conflict between the medical community and the government continued for a year and a half.” This meeting marked the first encounter with patient groups since her appointment on the 22nd of last month.
Minister Jeong promised to guarantee patient safety and rights. She stated, “We will promote policies that systematically protect patients’ rights and safety so that patients can receive medical care with peace of mind.” She added, “To prevent the recurrence of such conflicts, regaining trust with the public and the medical community is our top priority. We will endeavor to strengthen regional, essential, and public healthcare based on public-centered discussions.”
During the third training negotiation meeting held that day, the government and the medical community agreed on the plan for the return of medical residents. Medical residents who collectively resigned in protest of the increase in medical school admissions in February last year will be allowed to continue their training at their former hospitals, in their original years and specialties, with the confirmed recruitment plan for the second half. Specifically, legal measures were put in place to allow the recruitment of residents beyond the official quota so they can resume training in September. Special provisions such as deferral of enlistment will be granted to those returning to their training hospitals prior to military service. Recruitment for the second half will be conducted from the 11th to the end of the month.