Doctor-Gov`t talks in stalemate

The conflict over the separation of the roles of doctors and pharmacists has entered a new phase, with the pharmacists staging a full-fledged protest, while the government and doctors are in a tug-of-war over resuming dialogue. The Seoul Pharmaceutical Affairs Association decided in an extraordinary meeting of its delegates Saturday to hold a vote on whether to accept the government`s policy distinguishing between the roles of pharmacists and doctors August 6 if the reform plan is further damaged and the list of common medicines for prescription is not selected. The association also decided to conduct a no-confidence vote against Kim Hi-jung, chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical Affairs Association (KPAA), who breached his promise to launch a disobedience campaign against the reform plan if the earlier agreement on the role separation was defamed.

The Seoul delegates further called for the KPAA to correct its plans to counter the government¡¯s reform measures. Meanwhile, the KPAA will deliver its three-point demand to the Ministry of Health and Welfare Monday to help reduce the inconveniences to patients caused by the reform plan. The three points include writing the names of ingredients, not the names of goods, in prescriptions, limiting the number of preparations of medicines per pharmacist, and deletion of a provision restricting the methods of selling ordinary medication. The conflict over the separation of the roles of doctors and pharmacists has entered a new phase, with the pharmacists staging a full-fledged protest, while the government and doctors are in a tug-of-war over resuming dialogue.

The Seoul Pharmaceutical Affairs Association decided in an extraordinary meeting of its delegates Saturday to hold a vote on whether to accept the government`s policy distinguishing between the roles of pharmacists and doctors August 6 if the reform plan is further damaged and the list of common medicines for prescription is not selected. The association also decided to conduct a no-confidence vote against Kim Hi-jung, chairman of the Korea ceutical Affairs Association (KPAA),who breached his promise to launch a disobedience campaign against the reform plan if the earlier agreement on the role separation was defamed. The Seoul delegates further called for the KPAA to correct its plans to counter the government¡¯s reform measures. Meanwhile, the KPAA will deliver its three-point demand to the Ministry of Health and Welfare Monday to help reduce the inconveniences to patients caused by the reform plan. The three points include writing the names of ingredients, not the names of goods, in prescriptions, limiting the number of preparations of medicines per pharmacist, and deletion of a provision restricting the methods of selling ordinary medication.

Song Sang-Keun songmoon@donga.com