[Interview] Director An Sun-young: "There Is No Time for Severe Patients Waiting Only for Surgery"

"Sent Preliminary Inquiry to WHO"
"WHO is an Agency Addressing Human Rights Issues in Underdeveloped Medical Countries"
Legal Actions Against Government and Medical Community Also Under Review

As the government and the medical community engage in a strong standoff over the expansion of medical school quotas, the Korea Severe Disease Patients Union has sent a preliminary inquiry regarding patients' human rights issues to the World Health Organization (WHO) and is considering formal submission.

On the 26th, An Sun-young, director of the Korea Severe Disease Patients Union, said in an interview with Asia Economy, “The WHO responded preliminarily that they are an organization addressing human rights issues in medically underdeveloped countries, and that Korea, being a medically advanced country, is not their target,” adding, “Nevertheless, we are internally discussing whether to proceed again with a formal documented submission of the issue.”

In particular, Director An stated, “The government seems to have no willingness to compromise, believing that if the public raises an outcry, the doctors will give up. Conversely, the doctors seem to think the government will back down as it did before,” and criticized, “Life is a fundamental right, but this is too barbaric. There is no time for severe disease patients who have been waiting only for surgery. It seems that only when people start dying will they realize the seriousness of the situation.”

The Korea Severe Disease Patients Union includes six patient organizations: the Korea Cancer Patients Rights Council, Korea Multiple Myeloma Patients Association, Korea Lou Gehrig’s Disease Federation, Korea Severe Atopy Union, Korea Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients Association, and Korea Pancreatic Cancer Patients Association.

Ahn Sun-young, Director of the Korea Severe Disease Patients Association.
Photo by Korea Severe Disease Patients Association

The Korea Severe Disease Patients Union is also preparing legal action against the government and the medical community. Director An said, “We are identifying the damages suffered by patients such as surgery delays and health deterioration, and are considering legal action,” pointing out, “This is the same situation as in 2020, when deaths occurred and some people developed disabilities due to not receiving timely treatment. However, since there was no responsible party, most cases were quietly settled.”

Director An described the situation of severe disease patients: “Within less than a week, everyone is under a lot of psychological pressure and is exhausted. Some have expressed despair and said they would simply give up on treatment,” adding, “Everyone is worried that this crisis will be prolonged.” The Korean Medical Association’s Emergency Response Committee announced it will hold a nationwide doctors’ rally on the 3rd of next month and conduct a vote among all members on whether to take collective action.

Director An criticized, “This time, doctors must realize they are not absolute authorities, and the government must properly prepare and negotiate instead of using a high-handed approach as it is now. Neither side has clear grounds for expanding medical school quotas,” adding, “There is no concrete plan on how to secure and induce essential and regional medical doctors. If everyone goes into plastic surgery or dermatology, the doctor shortage problem will not be solved.”

Director An asked, “When the government and the Korean Medical Association discussed expanding medical school quotas, were patients considered? Both sides abandoned the patients. Powerful groups are fighting, but the social weak are suffering the consequences,” emphasizing, “The medical community should have cared for the patients, and the government should have considered emergency response measures.”

She continued, “If doctors return to hospitals and the government comes to the table for dialogue, everyone will support it,” and said, “The majority of the public empathizes, but I don’t understand why government officials and doctors, who were top students in school, don’t understand this.”