Government "Regrets Medical School Professors' Weekly Strike... Urges to Join Dialogue"

Government to Hold Meeting Chaired by Deputy Minister Park Min-su on the 28th

The government once again expressed regret over medical school professors' announcement of a once-a-week strike and resignation, urging them to "call off collective action and come to the negotiating table." The photo shows Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, giving a briefing on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News.

The government once again expressed regret over the decision by medical school professors to suspend work one day a week and urged on the 28th, "Please end the collective action and come to the negotiating table."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare held the 39th meeting of the "Central Emergency Response Headquarters for Doctors' Collective Action," chaired by Vice Minister Park Min-su in the afternoon, to review the operation of the emergency medical system and the status of doctors' collective action, and made this announcement.

The government stated, "We express deep regret and concern over the medical school professors' group announcing their position to suspend work one day a week," and urged, "Please refrain from collective action so that patients' anxiety and suffering do not increase."

Earlier, the National Medical School Professors Emergency Countermeasures Committee (Jeon-ui-bi), composed of 20 medical schools, announced on the 26th after an online general meeting that they had decided to suspend work regularly one day a week to maintain sustainable medical care in the long term.

Following the government's review of whether the emergency medical system focusing on severe and emergency patients is operating smoothly, as of the 26th, the number of general inpatients at tertiary hospitals was 22,739, a 1.8% decrease compared to the weekly average.

The total number of general inpatients at all general hospitals, including tertiary hospitals, was 86,824, a 1.6% decrease compared to the previous week. The number of intensive care unit inpatients was 2,876 at tertiary hospitals, a 0.5% decrease compared to the weekly average, and 6,913 at all general hospitals including tertiary hospitals, a 2.1% decrease compared to the previous week.

Among 408 emergency rooms, 393 (96%) are operating without bed reductions. Since February 20, the government has been responding by expanding and operating the Central Emergency Medical Situation Room.

The government promised to strengthen the emergency medical system to minimize gaps in care for severe and emergency patients and repeatedly urged the medical community to engage in dialogue.

Vice Minister Park said, "Since the government has stated that one-on-one dialogue with doctors' organizations is possible, we hope they will end collective action and come to the negotiating table unconditionally to present their opinions," and added, "We ask them to participate in the Special Committee on Medical Reform to discuss the future reform direction of Korea's health care together."