Health Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong apologized to patients and the general public for causing them anxiety and inconvenience during the year and a half of stalemate between the government and the medical community over health care reforms.

Meeting with civic groups on Thursday, Jeong said the government considers restoring public trust and that of the medical community the highest-priority task, before pledging to bolster regional, essential and public medicine with a focus on the people.

The minister also promised to implement policies aimed at systematically protecting patient rights and safety, and to do her best to draw up a reform plan that would be in the public's interest.

Referring to difficulties in resolving the dispute over the reforms, Jeong said she intends to involve the public, medical professionals and other experts in related consultations.