Prime Minister Han: "Medical School Professors May Resign or Take Leave Collectively, but They Will Protect Patients"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting responding to the medical professionals' collective action, held on the afternoon of the 26th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As professors from five major hospitals in Seoul city decided to go on a collective strike, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated, "Although they say they will engage in collective resignation and strike, I believe they will protect the lives of patients until the very end."

On the afternoon of the 26th, Prime Minister Han presided over the 'Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) for Doctors' Collective Action' meeting at the Government Seoul Office, saying, "The public and the government trust them."

He said, "A few days ago, I heard from a medical school professor in charge of organ transplants who said, 'There is nothing more important than igniting a dying life,' and that they would 'steadfastly care for patients.' I believe there are many such doctors across the country."

Earlier, medical school professors from the so-called Big 5 hospitals?Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital?decided to suspend outpatient consultations and surgeries one day a week.

Prime Minister Han earnestly urged, "I sincerely ask the professors to stay by the patients' side as they have done so far and to persuade their students to return now. I also hope that residents and medical students trust the government and the public and promptly return to the patients and their studies."

He mentioned that some fellows have begun to return and said, "We are grateful for that."

Prime Minister Han stated, "When residents collectively left at the end of February, the contract rate for fellows at large hospitals was only 30%, but now it is approaching 60%. It is not only the doctors. I sincerely thank all medical personnel, including nurses, medical technicians, and hospital staff, who are putting aside their own difficulties and working beyond their duties for the patients in front of them."

Prime Minister Han emphasized again, "We will steadfastly pursue medical reform, and in the process, we are doing our best to ensure that our citizens and patients do not suffer any harm," maintaining the existing plan to expand medical school quotas.

He also requested that the Korean Medical Association and the Residents' Council promptly participate in the Medical Reform Special Committee, a social consultative body, to join the medical reform efforts.

He urged, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, and related ministries should support the operation of the Medical Reform Special Committee thoroughly and ensure follow-up measures after discussions. Please also check that the procedures for recruiting new students at each university next year proceed orderly as announced by the government."