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Concerns about a crisis in Korea¡¯s health system are mounting after doctors threatened to stage a massive protest against a new bill aimed at liberalizing the profession and boosting patient convenience. In 2000, doctors paralyzed the healthcare system by going on strike after the government banned them from selling drugs to patients.
The Korea Medical Association (KMA) in an emergency meeting on Saturday called on the government to scrap the first revision to Korea¡¯s aging medical law in 34 years. The KMA initially planned to demand the government review only some controversial provisions, but the meeting decided to reject the entire bill instead. In a statement, it warned the government plan would threaten public health, violate doctors¡¯ rights and cause chaos in the healthcare system. The KMA threatened protests in 16 cities and towns ahead of a nationwide rally of 90,000 members on Sunday.
The revision aims to ease barriers to joining the profession, hold doctors more responsible for malpractice and to pave the way for clinics offering both Western and Oriental medicine.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the revision was prepared after five months of discussion reflecting opinions from six medical sectors including the Association of Korea Oriental Medicine as well as various civic groups. It vowed to present the current bill to the National Assembly unless it reaches an agreement with KMA by Feb. 12.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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