"Acceptance of Resident Doctors' Resignations Means Government Intends to Abandon Patient Care"

"Determined to Destroy the National Healthcare System"

On the 22nd, medical staff were moving at a large hospital in Seoul where some former residents who had left the hospital along with residents in protest against the increase in medical school admissions returned partially. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The government is expected to announce specific measures on the afternoon of the 4th regarding the acceptance of resignation letters from resident doctors and the methods of administrative sanctions. The government, which had previously prohibited hospitals from accepting residents' resignation letters, is now about to withdraw this measure. The Korean Medical Association (KMA) plans to start a general strike vote among its 140,000 physician members by the 7th. Amid the ongoing deadlock between the government and the medical community over increasing medical school quotas, Choi Chang-min, chairman of the National Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors (Jeon-ui-bi), stated, "Accepting resignation letters means the government is giving up on patient care."

On the same day, Chairman Choi said on KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa' program about the situation of resident doctors, "Although the government talks as if it is conceding everything, judicial actions and administrative sanctions against residents have not been resolved at all." He added, "Today (the 4th), they said they would only lift the ban on accepting resignation letters, but there is a high possibility they will announce license suspensions or administrative sanctions against residents." He further explained, "The government lacks consistency, so it is hard to predict what kind of announcement will be made, making it difficult to respond. The government holds many pressure cards against residents, but none have been lifted so far."

Chairman Choi emphasized that accepting residents' resignation letters means the government is abandoning patient care. He said, "The acceptance of resignation letters is done by university hospital directors," and added, "They accept the resignation letters and then expect the hospitals to manage with the remaining doctors by hiring as needed." He criticized, "It seems the government is determined to completely ruin the national healthcare system."

Chairman Choi also explained, "Currently, fourth-year students are not receiving any education, so it should be considered that almost none have taken the national medical licensing exam." The national exam consists of practical and written tests, which are scheduled on different dates. However, according to Chairman Choi, fourth-year students have not been able to receive education and are considering taking a leave of absence. Furthermore, he warned, "No new doctors will graduate next year, and consequently, no interns will come out either. This situation will trigger a chain reaction going forward."