Korean Medical Association Chairman comments on proposed fee increase of 1.9%: “Is this the value of life that Minister Yoon thinks?”

Reps Express Dissatisfaction with Rate Increase after Fee Negotiation Breakdown…KMA: “Future Confusion is Government Responsibility”

[Im Hyun-taek Chairman Facebook Screenshot]

‘ (Seoul=Yonhap News) Byung-ho Sung = After the breakdown of the fee negotiation for the number of lawmakers, Im Hyun-taek, the president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), strongly criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol.’,

‘ The National Health Insurance Corporation proposed that the rate increase was too low, but the KMA, which had already hinted at a “big fight in June,” warned that “the government is responsible for all future confusion.”‘,

‘ On the afternoon of the 1st, Chairman Im wrote on his Facebook, “1.6%, 1.9%, this is the value of human life that President Yoon Suk-yeol thinks. The value of children, pregnant women, cancer patients, and the elderly.”‘,

‘ 1.6% and 1.9% are the rate increases proposed by the Health Insurance Corporation to the Korean Hospital Association and the KMA, respectively, for next year.’,

‘ After the Hospital Association and KMA rejected these proposals, the Corporeal Financial Operations Committee of the Corporation, following the breakdown of negotiations, suggested to the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee (Health Council) that they should not set the rates for medical institutions higher than this.’,

‘ Chairman Im had argued before this negotiation that a 10% increase in fees was necessary.’,

‘ He also stated at a press conference on the 16th of last month, “Our country’s insurance fee, which started at 50% of the cost, is still hovering around 80% of the cost after nearly half a century. The fees next year should be increased by at least 10% and normalized to 100% of the cost quickly.”‘,

‘ Chairman Im also said on Facebook on this day, “Now I want to live in a country run by normal people, not by those who drink all day and shout loudly.”‘,

‘ This seems to be a mockery of the offer of beer made by the ruling party members to President Yoon Suk-yeol at the workshop on the 30th after the opening of the 22nd National Assembly. It was also the day when a tribute was held for a recruit who collapsed and died while receiving military training.’,

‘ Regarding this, the day after on the 31st, Chairman Im posted a photo of President Yoon attending the workshop on Facebook and asked, “Did you have to enjoy drinking and having fun on the day when a new recruit died protecting the country, losing his life in vain?”‘,

‘ The KMA declared the refusal to negotiate fees on the day, as the proposal to withdraw the differentiated application of conversion indices by procedure type as a precondition was not accepted.’,

‘ The differential application of conversion indices by procedure type means that they will increase the conversion indices applied to essential medical procedures that have been undervalued.’,

‘ So far, the conversion indices have been uniformly increased regardless of the type of procedure.’,

‘ The KMA, which announced a “big fight in June” opposing the increase in medical school admissions at a nationwide candlelight rally on the 30th, stated on this day, “We strongly condemn the one-sided negotiation attitude of the Corporation and emphasize that the responsibility for a series of medical confusions that will arise in the future lies squarely with the Corporation and the government authorities.”‘,

Doctors holding candles remembering the death of Korean healthcare
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Hwang Kwang-mo reporter = Doctors participating in the candlelight rally organized by the Korean Medical Association in front of Deoksugung Palace in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 30th, remembering the deaths of Korean healthcare. 2024.5.30 hkmpooh@yna.co.kr

‘ soho@yna.co.kr’,