Ministry of Health and Welfare "Establishment of Emergency Response Medical Situation Room... 8,945 Non-returning Residents"

'Medical Reform Special Committee Preparation TF' to Operate from This Week
Non-returning Residents Account for 72% of Affiliated Residents

The government is establishing 'Emergency Response Emergency Medical Situation Rooms' in four regions to strengthen the role of control towers that connect emergency patients to appropriate medical institutions.

Park Min-su, the 1st General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 4th, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex, "Starting today (the 4th), we will operate Emergency Response Emergency Medical Situation Rooms in four regions: Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju, to ensure that emergency patients are quickly transferred to appropriate medical institutions and receive timely treatment." He added, "We will support the finances for hospitals to hire replacement personnel and promptly revise work guidelines so that medical support staff on site can work with peace of mind."

The 'Medical Reform Special Committee Preparation Task Force (TF)' will also begin operating this week. Vice Minister Park said, "While announcing the 'Four Major Medical Reform Policies,' we decided to promptly implement short-term measures and discuss mid- to long-term tasks requiring structural institutional improvements at the 'Medical Reform Special Committee.' Since the Medical Reform Special Committee is a presidential advisory committee and will take time to form, we will first establish a preparation TF and plan to discuss medical reform tasks with a sense of urgency." He added that the TF will consist of government members including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and external advisory members.

Despite the government's warnings, residents have not returned, but the medical system is being maintained. He explained, "Admissions and surgeries at tertiary general hospitals have decreased, but these mainly involve patients with mild to moderate conditions. Some patients have been transferred to other general hospitals and are being treated cooperatively." He also noted, "The number of mild patients visiting emergency rooms has decreased by about 30%."

Regarding residents who have not returned, he urged them to come back, stating that responses will be made according to principles. As of 11 a.m. on the 29th of last month, an inspection of 100 training hospitals revealed that 8,945 residents, accounting for 72% of all residents, had left their workplaces.

Vice Minister Park said, "We plan to inspect the field and respond according to laws and principles regarding violations." He emphasized, "We will take strict and swift action against key figures involved in the collective action that caused confusion in the medical field." He added, "If the government's order to resume work is violated, a minimum three-month license suspension is inevitable. The delay in fulfilling training periods will postpone the acquisition of specialist qualifications by more than a year." He further noted, "Records of administrative disciplinary history and reasons will be kept, which may lead to disadvantages in future employment."

Meanwhile, as of the 3rd, 5,387 medical students, accounting for 28.7% of all enrolled medical students, have applied for leave of absence. No approvals related to collective leave have been granted.

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