Will the Return of Residents Accelerate... Full Return Seems Unlikely

[Financial News] As medical students who had taken collective leave in opposition to the government's policy of expanding medical school quotas in February last year officially announced their return, attention is focused on whether the return of residents, another axis of medical conflict, will also accelerate. Meanwhile, the Korean Intern Resident Association is showing a forward-looking attitude by holding a meeting at the National Assembly and gathering opinions through a temporary general assembly, but a full return seems realistically difficult.
According to the medical community on the 13th, the Daejeon Council plans to meet with National Assembly Welfare Committee Chairman Park Jumin on the 14th to convey residents' opinions on the return and hold a closed meeting. At this meeting, it is expected that plans for reconstructing critical and core medical services will be discussed together, and a foundation for continuous communication between the National Assembly and residents will be established. The Daejeon Council is also expected to gather residents' opinions and finalize demands through a temporary general assembly on the 19th.
The Daejeon Council proposed △ a review of the essential medical policy package and medical reform implementation plan of the Yoon Seok-yeol government △ ensuring continuity of training for residents who enlisted as military doctors or public health doctors (public health doctors) earlier this year and those awaiting enlistment △ easing legal burdens for unavoidable medical accidents △ improving the training environment for residents as preconditions for return. The emergency committee is expected to formalize new demands based on this public opinion.
As the recruitment of residents to resume training from September is scheduled for this month, resigned residents can return to hospitals through this. It is known that the number of residents wishing to return and end the medical conflict is increasing.
Resigned resident A said, "I know that many residents wish to return," adding, "However, I think the key is how much they can return without damage in the process."
For example, residents awaiting enlistment are demanding enlistment deferral measures for a smooth return.
In this regard, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is reportedly not currently considering such special measures. It is said that they are taking a stance of watching for the residents' demands to materialize first.
If both medical students and residents return to their places, it would put an end to the prolonged medical conflict.
However, a full return of residents seems realistically difficult. More than half are already employed and working at other medical institutions such as local clinics. Concerns are also raised that in essential departments such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, or non-metropolitan areas, the return may be minimal. It is said that there is no reason to obtain a specialist qualification as the faculty has left or the training environment has not improved. In this context, there is also an explanation that the return process of residents may bring about controversy over 'privileges' regarding government policies. 


vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jung-mo Reporter