Government: "Non-returning medical residents, law and principles unavoidable... Lack of public sympathy" (Update)

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting Held... "Medical Staff and Patients' Suffering Increasing"
Concerns Over Additional 'Collective Actions' Like Professors' Resignations Amid Criticism of Residents' Neglect
"Public Healthcare, the Last Stronghold... Emergency Medical Support Measures to Be Thoroughly Implemented"

The government urged doctors engaged in collective action to return, stating that "procedures based on law and principles are inevitable for non-returning residents." It also warned that "any voice that does not stand with patients will not gain public sympathy," particularly regarding the actions of faculty opposing medical school expansion and the pressure exerted on returning residents.

On the morning of the 11th, the government held a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for doctors' collective action at the Government Complex Sejong, expressing concerns that "as the vacancies of residents lengthen, the fatigue of the remaining medical staff and the suffering patients must endure are increasing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Han-kyung, the 2nd General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters who presided over the meeting, said in his opening remarks, "Still, over 90% of residents are ignoring this reality," adding, "Some universities and training hospitals are even seeing faculty members opposing medical school expansion resigning."

In response, Coordinator Lee warned, "Under no circumstances should a situation occur where doctors abandon patients, and any voice that does not stand with patients will not gain public sympathy." He continued, "There have been media reports that many residents hesitate to return due to fear of stigma from their surroundings," and requested, "We ask that you prioritize your conviction as doctors over external pressure and return to hospitals even now."

Regarding public anxiety caused by the medical vacuum, he emphasized, "We will thoroughly implement emergency medical support measures with the determination that public healthcare is the 'last bastion' of Korea's medical system." He added, "We will mobilize all available resources to minimize public harm in local medical sites by preparing measures tailored to the medical environment and conditions of each local government."

Earlier, the government announced a plan to strengthen the emergency medical system by deploying military doctors and public health doctors to the field to minimize the medical vacuum caused by the collective departure of residents over the past weekend. From today for four weeks, a total of 158 personnel, including 20 military doctors and 138 public health doctors, will be deployed to 20 hospitals to fill the vacancies left by those who left and reduce the burden on the field. The deployed personnel are expected to play a role in resolving difficulties such as delays in surgery and treatment for severe and emergency patients. Compensation for treatment of severe and emergency patients will also be strengthened. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to rapidly execute the 128.5 billion won contingency fund decided last week and temporarily inject 188.2 billion won from health insurance for the month of March.

The government is also accelerating the notification of license suspension for residents who have left the medical field. Since the 5th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been sending preliminary notices to departing residents, and the process of sending notices to about 10,000 residents who have left their workplaces is expected to be completed by early this week. According to a written inspection by the Ministry, the number of residents who left from 100 major training hospitals was 11,994 as of 11 a.m. on the 8th, with a departure rate of 92.9%.