[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), stated on the 6th, one day before the collective strike of resident doctors, "We will secure substitute personnel to maintain essential medical services such as emergency rooms and intensive care units."
At the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that day, Deputy Head Park said, "The government will listen to the medical community's opinions and actively negotiate to prevent the collective strike, but we will also prepare for any eventualities."
He added, "We will prepare to ensure that there is no harm to the public by operating emergency situation rooms at the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments," and "We hope the medical community will resolve differences through dialogue and communication, considering the health and safety of the public."
In opposition to the government's policy to expand medical school quotas, the medical community has repeatedly announced full strikes. Following the Korean Intern Resident Association on the 7th, the Korean Medical Association also plans to begin a collective strike on the 14th.
Regarding this, Deputy Head Park will deliver a public address at 11 a.m. that day. The government is expected to emphasize that, given the urgent situation in responding to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the collective strike could cause significant harm to the public and will request reconsideration of the strike.
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