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Ripples Seen In The Investigation of The Separation of Hospitals and Pharmacies

Ripples Seen In The Investigation of The Separation of Hospitals and Pharmacies

Posted May. 18, 2001 08:21,   

한국어

As the Board of Audit and Inspection temporarily concluded that the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) minimized and covered up the side effect of the separation of hospitals and pharmacies, the ruling and oppositional party are engaging the debate over `responsibility` of this situation. The conflict becomes amplified between Cheong Wa Dae, the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), and MHW.

Both Cheong Wa Dae and MDP want to conclude this situation by reprimanding MHW officials and suggesting a comprehensive alternative plan at the end of this month, whereas the Grand National Party (GNP) pushes for the further inspection of government administration as well as related officials. Even the MHW officials argued that it would be better to have the inspection of the government administration since a comprehensive alternative plan would not solve the problem

.- GNP’s position: GNP urged for the inspection of the government administration, arguing that the government tried to saddle its responsibility for the failure of policy with regard to medical insurance and the separation of hospitals and pharmacies upon MHW officials. At the GNP’s executive meeting, Kim Ghi-Bae, secretary general, maintained that `President Kim Dae-Jung already admitted the failure of the policy on the separation of hospitals and pharmacies. Investigation of minister or officials’ responsibility for this situation is a side issue.` Kim Man-Jae, chairman of policy committee, also said, ``It is not an appropriate attitude of President, who has the limitless responsibility, to say as if he is deceived by the false report.`` Chang Kwang-Keun, assistant spokesperson, also urged that ``President should apologize to the people first, and then the prime minister and the policy makers of the MDP should be called into account.``

- MDP’s position: Chun Yong-Hak, spokesperson of MDP, refuted GNP by arguing that ``The separation of hospitals and pharmacies was passed by the National Assembly following the agreement between President Kim Dae-Jung and Lee Hoi-Chang, president of GNP. GNP’s criticism of President and the ruling party is irresponsible and inappropriate political offense.`` Kim Sung-Soon also said, ``Political responsibility for the side effect of the separation of hospitals and pharmacists was already called into account, as two Ministers resigned and President also felt sorry for this situation.``

Any signs of a cover up or misfeasance by related officials will be reprimanded. However, no reprimand can be made in charge of the failure of policy.

- MHW: An MHW official complained that `middle-level officials, who are subject to reprimand, are the same people who are preparing for a comprehensive alternative plan. If those middle-level officials are the principal offender, who can trust the alternative plan made by them?`` Even `conspiracy theory,` which plans to make the MHW officials scapegoats in order to avoid the inspection of the government administration by Cheong Wa Dae and MDP, is spreading within MHW. Moreover, rumor has it that a report, written by an MHW official in opposition to the separation of hospitals and pharmacists, will be publicized when the inspection of the government administration takes place. An official said that ``The last resort is the inspection of the government administration. If the inspection does not take place, the task of finding out who is responsible for this will be taken over to the next government.``



Song In-Soo issong@donga.com