Doctors, gov¡¯t likely to resume talks

The government and the medical circle are expected to resume negotiations, which have been deadlocked for weeks.

Health-Welfare Minister Choi Sun-Jung said in a press conference Sunday that the government failed to fully reflect the opinions of the medical circle in the process of implementing the division of roles between doctors and pharmacists and that the problems accumulated for the past two decades have led to the current medical turmoil. For that matter, the minister expressed regret to the people and the medical circle.

The ministry announced that the government and the medical sector had agreed to hold talks at the Palace Hotel at 2 p.m. Monday, but the 10-man emergency committee of the Korea Medical Association countered that the government had not yet come up with an official apology but that it did not preclude such a dialogue with the government. Accordingly, it is expected that the mutual dialogue will begin Tuesday, if it is held.

Admitting that the government had failed to make adequate preparations for medical reform, to address public misgivings with the breakout of the medical service strike and to denounce doctors' moves as selfish collective activities, Choi said that his ministry would examine the problems raised by the medical sector and supplement the measures for medical reform, including revisions of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.

The ministry's conciliatory gestures came in the wake of the KMA's easing of its hard-line stance of demanding a government apology and the release of the arrested doctors who were implicated in instigating the medical strikes, With the minister's expression of regret, as well as the expected dialogue between the sides, the possibility is increasing that the KMA will call off its general strike scheduled for Oct. 6.

Song Sang-Keun songmoon@donga.com