Seoul: The government and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) have announced plans to advance two critical bills focused on enhancing essential medical care and reducing regional disparities. This decision follows a prolonged standoff in the medical community, highlighting the urgent need to address doctor shortages in vital areas.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting, which included representatives from the health ministry, the presidential office, and the DP, took place at the National Assembly. The discussion centered on legislative priorities under the Lee Jae Myung administration during the current regular session. The parties agreed to prioritize the special act on essential and regional health care and the regional doctor training act as part of their medical reform agenda.

The regional doctor training act will require medical schools to accept a certain percentage of students through a specialized track for regional doctors. These students will receive full tuition coverage but must commit to working at public health institutions for a specified period post-licensure.

DP Representative Lee Soo-jin expressed concerns regarding the low return rate of junior doctors to regional training hospitals, particularly in essential fields like pediatrics. She emphasized the necessity of passing the essential health care act and the regional doctor act during the current session to avoid similar issues in the future. Lee also mentioned plans to amend the law to better safeguard patients affected by the extended dispute between the government and the medical community.

The conflict began in February 2024, when a large number of trainee doctors and medical students protested the government's proposal to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 annually, starting in 2025. The students and trainees ended their protest after the government decided to revert the 2026 admissions quota to its former level of approximately 3,000.