On March 5th, the government held a luncheon meeting at the Government Complex in Seoul with the Special Committee for Medical Reform, which is directly under the President’s office, and discussed the strengthening of local and essential medical services as part of a “medical reform.” Choi Sang-mok, the Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized that while the recent environment, including the impeachment situation of President Yoon Seok-yeol, poses difficulties, the government will continue to push for medical reforms in collaboration with the medical community.
The meeting included various members from related ministries, such as Kyu-Hong Cho, the Minister of Health and Welfare, and Ki-Seon Bang, the Chief Secretary of the State Coordination Office. Choi expressed his gratitude to the committee for taking a leading role in the establishment and implementation of reform measures even amidst uncertainties. He also stressed that the government will fulfill its promise to push forward with medical reforms, with the second phase of the medical reform plan aimed at enhancing local medical services and expanding essential medical personnel set to be announced soon.
No Yeon-hong, the Chair of the Special Committee for Medical Reform, remarked that unlike previous reform initiatives that only presented rosy blueprints, the current committee’s discussion and subsequent execution of reform tasks were achievable due to public support and governmental policy determination. No pledged to complete the medical reforms within the critical remaining time.
Participants at the luncheon evaluated the committee’s activities and achievements since its inception in April last year. They agreed on the need to strengthen the committee’s role as a social discussion body to smoothly implement numerous challenging reform tasks like nurturing regional general hospitals, reforming non-critical care and indemnity insurance to prevent unnecessary medical expenses, and enhancing safety nets to prevent essential medical personnel departure.
Acting President Choi conveyed a willingness to support reform efforts with bold and rapid legislative and institutional improvements as well as investments. He urged non-participating medical groups to join the medical reform discussions as partners, emphasizing that medical normalization cannot solely rely on government efforts but requires collaboration among providers, consumers, and administrators.
Lastly, the government announced its commitment to ensure stable implementation of reform tasks through legislative and institutional improvements and expanded investments, confirming its stance to pursue sustainable reforms in collaboration with the medical community.