The Korean Medical Association (KMA) proposed separating the Ministry of Health and Welfare into the Health Ministry and a Welfare Ministry as part of its presidential campaign policy. According to the medical community on the 11th, the KMA held a briefing the previous day to present this presidential policy proposal. The aim is to enhance the independence and professionalism of health services.
The call for an independent Health Ministry also surfaced during the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The proposal was to split the Ministry of Health and Welfare into a Health Ministry and a Welfare Ministry, with each ministry focusing on its respective responsibilities. At that time, the Ministry of Health and Welfare argued that many issues were interconnected between health, medical, and welfare services, making separation difficult.
Regarding the establishment of a public medical school, which has recently been a part of the presidential campaign pledges, the KMA stated that creating an environment for doctors to work in local areas should come first. The public medical school would provide state-sponsored tuition, with medical students required to work in public healthcare institutions for a certain period after graduation to address regional medical disparities. The KMA noted, "If a medical school graduate opens a practice in a local area, support such as long-term low-interest loans must be established."