Opposition party tries to halt crisis

In a move to defuse the escalating medical crisis, the opposition Grand National Party has proposed the formation of a tripartite committee under the National Health and Welfare Commission that would consist of representatives from the medical, pharmaceutical and governmental arenas.

The proposal resulted from a meeting sponsored by the GNP with Korean Medical Association director Kim In-Ho, Medical Professors` Association president Kim Hyun-Jip and the member of the radical arm of the Korean Medical Association Joo Su-Ho.

"The government needs to first formalize the increase in doctors` fees, clarify its program to improve the working conditions of the residents and interns, and release the leading member of the medical field currently imprisoned before entering into talks," Lee Kyung-Jae, head policy maker for the GNP, said.

However, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party opposes the formation of a tripartite committee, stating that as the both the ruling and the opposition parties have passed the bill for the revision of the Pharmaceutical Law, it is time for all to support the government`s effort to normalize and implement the legislation.