Professors at Sungdae Medical School and Samsung Hospital Close Every Friday, "Emergency Surgeries Proceed"

Friday Closures Begin After Mid-June

Professors from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine and Samsung Seoul Hospital have decided to implement collective work stoppages every Friday starting from mid-June.

Samsung Seoul Hospital, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

On the 23rd, the Emergency Response Committee (ERC) of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine announced that on the 21st, a general meeting was held with about 200 professors from the Department of Basic Medical Science at the medical school, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, and Samsung Changwon Hospital, where they decided on a plan for one day off per week.

The ERC stated, "In April, we distributed recommendations for appropriate working hours such as the '52-hour workweek' to professors, but it was found that adjusting working hours was difficult due to duties such as on-call shifts," adding, "Some professors are on the verge of burnout."

The ERC also said, "Considering coordination with hospital directors, appointment changes, and patient inconvenience, we plan to start Friday work stoppages from mid-June onward."

Professors intend to continue emergency surgeries and procedures in the emergency room and intensive care unit regardless of the day, even when taking one day off per week.

An ERC official explained, "It means changing regular surgeries or outpatient treatments from Friday to other days."

At the general meeting, the ERC shared the situations of residents and medical students affiliated with the hospitals and discussed future response plans. They said, "More than two-thirds of the professors agreed to respect the autonomous decisions of residents and students regarding the submission of resignation letters by residents and leave of absence applications by medical students."

Major tertiary hospitals in Seoul such as Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital continue to maintain the policy of one day off per week. It is reported that they plan to hold a general meeting on the afternoon of the 23rd to discuss future adjustments to medical services.