A patient is seen at a major hospital in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
The Korea Severe Disease Association, one of the major patients' groups in Korea, has asked the health ministry to hold a public hearing on the introduction of doctors holding licenses issued in foreign nations, in response to the protracted government-doctor standoff resulting in significant disruptions to medical services.
The association said Thursday that it had sent a letter to the ministry the previous day, emphasizing the need to hold a public hearing.
“It is time for the government to consider countermeasures, including the early introduction of foreign medical license holders, as there are already hundreds of these medical professionals in Korea,” the association said.
The request comes as there is no sign of a breakthrough in the standoff, which began in February since the Yoon Suk Yeol administration announced the policy to increase the annual medical school admissions quota.
Amid prolonged medical service disruptions, the health ministry said, May 8, it would revise the enforcement regulation of the Medical Act to allow those who have acquired doctors' licenses in other countries to practice medicine in Korea upon its approval when the country issues the highest national health crisis alert.
As this revision does not require foreign medical license holders to pass exams here, the plan has faced fierce opposition from the country's doctors.
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The association said, “There have been many opposing opinions, but in reality, many patients and people think that the government should allow foreign medical license holders to practice medicine here to prevent more medical service disruptions.”
Regarding the request, the ministry took a cautious attitude, saying that while it has considered measures to introduce doctors with foreign licenses in case of a serious health crisis, holding a related public hearing is not under review at this time.
“The decision should be made after many aspects are comprehensively considered. We will continue to keep a close eye on how the situation develops,” Kim Guk-il, a senior ministry official, said at a press briefing.