[메디게이트뉴스 하경대 기자] The Ministry of Health and Welfare explained as ‘unfounded’ a media report that ‘the government is expanding the role of oriental medicine doctors in rural areas due to a sharp decline in the supply of public health doctors (public health doctors).’
Previously, many media outlets announced that the government would strengthen the oriental medicine treatment function of public medical institutions such as public health centers and local medical centers and specifically review the revitalization of the local oriental medicine public health industry.
In addition, some have even interpreted that the government is expanding the authority of oriental medical doctors to allow them to perform ‘minor medical procedures’ necessary for primary care, like civil servants dedicated to public health care.
Regarding this, an official from the Health and Health Policy Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare said through Medigate News on the 24th, “Contrary to the article, we have never reviewed or discussed (strengthening the oriental medicine treatment function of public medical institutions). We have checked with various bureaus of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but it is an issue that no one knows about.”
This official explained, “Specifically, I am not aware of any plans to strengthen the role of oriental medical doctors due to the sharp decline in the number of public information reported in the media. There has also been no review of measures to expand the right to treat ‘minor medical practices’ of oriental medical doctors.”
An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Oriental Medicine Policy Department also responded, “We have no knowledge of the reported content. However, as the Oriental Medicine Doctors’ Elderly Care System is included in the national agenda, we have begun basic work on the system regardless of this report.”
Meanwhile, the Korean Oriental Medicine Association has been advocating for the expansion of local and essential medical care using oriental medicine doctors. In addition, they took the position that oriental medicine doctors and public health doctors should be given the right to prescribe medicines and provide medical treatment to prevent gaps in primary care in medically underserved areas.
According to the ‘Public Awareness Survey on Measures to Improve Regional Medical Imbalance Using Oriental Medicine Doctors‘ published by the Association of Oriental Medicine, Oriental Medicine Policy Research Institute, and others in August, 67.2% of respondents said, ‘If Oriental medicine doctors undergo additional training and take on some of the doctor’s duties, it will help improve local public health and health promotion, such as health guidance and disease prevention and management.’
Additionally, 64.8% were found to be in favor of the ‘Regional/Essential/Public Medical Doctor System (tentative name)’, in which oriental medical doctors acquire essential medical expertise and then work as doctors in the region for a certain period of time.
67.2% responded positively to the question, ‘If oriental medicine doctors take over doctors’ duties after additional training, will it help improve public medical care and health promotion?’
After this media report, the Association of Oriental Medicine released a statement in favor, saying, “With the number of Western doctors practicing in the public medical field rapidly decreasing, we are concerned that the precious health and lives of the people are being seriously threatened. As it is the government’s natural responsibility to actively utilize the professional medical staff of 30,000 Oriental doctors to create a medical environment where the people can receive treatment comfortably, we must do our best to come up with an alternative before the situation worsens.”
In addition, the Association of Oriental Medicine stated, “The number of public medical doctors is decreasing significantly every year, so there is a need to actively utilize public health doctors of Oriental medicine in medically underserved areas. Public health doctors of Oriental medicine should be given the right to prescribe medicines and other medical services that public officials in charge of public health have.”
