Han "Regret over medical community collective action... No disadvantages for 'returning residents'"

Seoul National University College of Medicine and Medical Association Announce Strike
"Majority of Silent Doctors Will Not Agree"
"Returning Residents Will Face No Administrative Sanctions or Disadvantages"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo expressed deep regret over the collective strike announced by the Korea Medical Association following the decision of Seoul National University College of Medicine professors to collectively suspend work, and reaffirmed the government's policy that there will be no disadvantages for residents returning to medical practice.

At a press conference for the public held at the Government Seoul Office on the 9th, Prime Minister Han stated, "I deeply regret that some medical professionals and doctors' organizations are still threatening additional illegal collective actions at the expense of the lives of the people." He emphasized, "Such actions not only place a heavy burden on the emergency medical system but also risk leaving deep scars on our entire society. The social trust built over decades between the medical community and patients must not be destroyed in an instant by the hardline claims of a few."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is holding a national press conference on medical reform on the 9th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong, and Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Bang Ki-sun.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Han said, "I believe the silent majority of doctors do not agree with illegal collective actions," and stressed, "Even now, the vast majority of doctors are by the patients' side, and quite a few residents have quietly returned to the field. The people and patients support these individuals."

He added, "Instead of escalating conflicts, I hope to give those who choose to return to the field the confidence that 'your path is right,'" and said, "The government will persuade the medical community until the very end to prevent a total strike and complete suspension of work, and will devote all efforts to minimizing medical service gaps."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo particularly reiterated the government's open policy for the 'return of residents.' On the 4th, the government withdrew the order to maintain medical services and resume work directed at residents, as well as the 'order prohibiting acceptance of resignation letters' issued to training hospitals. On the 5th, the government announced to all training hospitals that "there will be no administrative sanctions against residents who return."

He said, "I repeat, the government will ensure that residents returning to the field feel no anxiety," and "I clearly promise once again that those who return will face no disadvantages, including administrative sanctions." He added, "We will continue to persuade and consider necessary measures to minimize resignations and non-returns."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held a public press conference on medical reform on the 9th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, together with Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, and Bang Ki-sun, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Han said, "No government in history has completed medical reform, and some have only worsened the problem with temporary measures," and added, "Due to repeated government failures, the distrust between the medical community and the government has deepened. As a reflection on this, before starting medical reform, we have extensively gathered opinions from the medical community for a year." He explained the medical reform tasks, including improvement of essential and regional medical services, enactment of the Medical Accident Handling Special Act, and advancement of medical education, emphasizing, "None of these are easy tasks, but we will definitely achieve them for the future of the Republic of Korea."