Doctors, government must start talking

If a medical catastrophe hits the country after all the doctors leave their hospitals, would the government still blame them?

The government has announced the results of its proposed 2,000-person increase in the enrollment quota for medical schools. On Wednesday, it decided to allot 1,639 more students to medical schools outside Seoul and Gyeonggi. In Gyeonggi alone, the government raised the quota by 361 to enhance the level of regional medical services. Could such a scheme really coax trainee doctors to return to their hospitals from their collective walkout?

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) denounced the announcement for “destroying the last bridge for doctors to return.” The government’s hurried announcement likely represents its determination to not allow doctors to use the size of the quota increase as a bargaining chip.

Despite the government’s administrative threat to punish trainee doctors on strike, an overwhelming number didn’t return to their hospital for one month. Even medical professors at the five main hospitals plan to submit their resignations next Monday.

Though the situation is getting worse, both sides failed to find a breakthrough. Despite the government’s measures to lure doctors back, they failed to get sympathy. The hasty announcement Wednesday by the government did not contain any substantial answers.

President Yoon promised to “deeply discuss” challenges for medical reform when a special committee under his jurisdiction opens in April. We wonder if the government has prepared any means to bring trainee doctors back to the negotiation table. If a medical catastrophe hits the country after all the doctors leave their hospitals, would the government still blame them?

After the announcement by the government, each university must submit to the Korean Council for University Education its revised guidelines for admitting students for the next school year. If universities announce their new admission guidelines in May, it would wrap up all the procedures for admitting freshmen. But that leaves some room for adjustment. The government must start negotiating with professors.

The KMA, where its members started voting to elect a new president from Wednesday, also must refrain from worsening the situation. Four out of its five candidates maintain a hardline position against the government. The doctors’ group has not showed any positive role in the standoff between trainee doctors and the government. Rather, it helped the situation deteriorate by insisting on no single increase in the quota. To make matters worse, the group now threatens to encourage physicians at clinics to shutter their doors. If this is not an example of sheer irresponsibility, what is?