'Yoon’s healthcare policy changed from early days’

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s healthcare policy has changed from when it took office two years ago, an expert said Saturday, citing the government’s plan to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 as a typical example.

Dr. Park Eun-sik, a specialist, said so at the “Doctors for a Fair Society” inaugural forum at the Seoul Medical Association (SMA). Park served on the emergency committee of the ruling People Power Party and ran for the 22nd National Assembly election in Gwangju as a PPP candidate but was defeated.

Park pointed out that the government's healthcare policy has taken a "strange turn" from the early days.

"The medical school enrollment increase of 2,000 is very regretful. The policy has resulted in the current tragedy,” Park said. "I think the Korean healthcare system is good. Of course, there were notorious systems, including excessive night duty, but we provided good services. I think it was cheap and good medical care."

"Instead of pushing for the increase, the government should have explained the complexity of the Korean healthcare system to the people and persuaded them that if we increase doctors to the OECD’s average, our healthcare system could be ruined," Park said. "In Korea, you can have an endoscopy and get the results the same day. It is impossible abroad. It's unthinkable in most countries. The government had to persuade the public by explaining that and other advantages of our system and complement it."

Park also pointed to a change in the incumbent government’s policy.

"Initially, the Yoon administration's healthcare policy was not like this. However, as the people making policies changed, it went to a ‘strange place,’" he said. "I was in the party leadership, so I couldn't say, 'Don't do it.’ I regret it now. As a senior doctor, I think I should have done so to win a seat in the (National Assembly). I'm just sorry."

He urged young doctors to take an interest in politics and raise their voices.

"That's why you should be interested in politics. You should ask yourselves why you are here now when you should be studying and building your careers," Dr. Park said, "You should be interested in policy issues and make your voice heard."

Some speakers at the forum called for the medical community to make efforts to communicate with the public and reach a consensus.

Lee Ju-young, a lawmaker-elect of the splinter opposition Reform Party, said so while explaining how she started writing about pediatric emergency medicine and entered politics.

"Many senior doctors and juniors are traveling the road together, and we should not forget that many people, including patients and guardians, have shaped 'us' as we are today," Lee said.

Lee continued, "One of the big barriers facing doctors is the lack of persuasive skills. We (doctors) can form a blossom by ourselves. However, when we are with our patients, the public, and colleagues, our horizons are infinitely expanded, and I hope we will always remember the life we share together."

Hwang Kyu-seok, president of the Seoul Medical Association, also emphasized the need to build consensus with the public, referring to former Korean Medical Association President Roh Hwan-kyu's statement that "the government cannot defeat doctors.” Roh posted the remark on his social media in February, drawing public attention.

"Recently, the medical community said, 'The government can't beat doctors,' but I think it would have resonated better with the people if he had said, 'The government can't beat the people, and doctors are the people, as they are the people before doctors,’" Hwang said.

Hwang continued, "Doctors have become a scapegoat for politicians who want to keep their power by pushing people into conflict. It's partly because senior doctors didn't know much about it. We can only be respected if we care first. We need to change the paradigm from now on. I ask young doctors to write and try to change the world and make doctors understood by the people."