[사설] Residents’ demands to sue and sack the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, isn’t this a red flag?

It is frustrating that there is no sign of resolution of the conflict between lawmakers and government even after the general election. Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDC) for collective action of doctors yesterday, “The government’s will to reform medical care remains unchanged. Considering the 2025 college entrance schedule, there is not much time left, so the medical community must quickly become rational and unified.” “Please present a viable plan,” he said. This is the government’s first statement of position after the general election. After the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in the general election, the government did not provide a briefing and remained silent, raising concerns that some were turning to appeasement, but these were dismissed.

Residents yesterday filed a complaint against Park Min-soo, Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, to the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office on charges of abuse of power and other charges. At the same time, he said, “Until Vice Minister Park is dismissed, he will never return to the hospital.” This cannot be anything other than a red flag for the medical community, which has threatened the lives of the people and caused inconvenience through illegal actions. The Korean Medical Association stated that the unified voice of the medical community requested by the government is ‘a reexamination of the original point of increasing the number of medical schools.’ They are saying that they have no interest in dialogue and will force the government into submission. It is extremely frustrating to wonder how long the medical community will continue its reckless group actions.

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, mentioned the prolongation of the medical gap situation at the first top-level meeting after the general election and said, “The government must abandon its obsession with specific numbers and engage in dialogue,” and “The medical community must also immediately return to the field.” It was also proposed again to form a special committee for public deliberation in the health and medical field in the National Assembly in which the ruling and opposition parties, the government, the medical community, and civil society participate. As a large opposition party that won a landslide victory in the general election, it is positive that it is taking care of urgent issues related to the people’s livelihood. Even within the ruling party, there are voices calling for flexibility, such as increasing the number of medical schools but reducing the number. It is worthwhile for the ruling and opposition parties to use this issue as the first test of cooperation.

The reality is that it is difficult to expect effective dialogue between the government and the medical community due to the wide differences in their positions and deep emotional rifts. There is little chance that the government will accept unreasonable demands such as dismissing the vice minister and reconsidering the original point of increasing the number of medical schools. The political world has been reluctant to intervene in issues of legislative and political conflict, being conscious of the general election vote. However, now that the general election is over, the ruling and opposition parties must actively mediate and find a solution. The demands of patients and their families that “the blood is drying up” and the public’s anxiety are growing. Universities and test-takers are experiencing confusion over the possibility of a change in the size of medical schools. It is no longer time to hesitate.

[ⓒ 세계일보 & Segye.com, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]