"Reports of Damage? Situations of Death Cases Being Reported"…Fierce Backlash Amid Indefinite Suspension Expansion

Condemnation of Medical Association's Indefinite Strike Resolution
"Ignoring Patients in Immediate Life-Threatening Conditions"

As major hospitals in South Korea consecutively decide on 'indefinite suspension of medical services,' public anxiety is growing. Patient groups and labor organizations in civil society have expressed concerns about a medical crisis and are urging the normalization of medical services.

The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) held a rally on the 12th, stating, "Doctors should be by the patients' side, and we urge the prompt normalization of medical services," adding, "Do not shift the responsibility for the management crisis caused by doctors' refusal to provide medical services onto the workers." They continued, "At 2 p.m. that day, about 5,000 union members gathered in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul," and condemned, "The collective refusal of medical services by doctors has continued for over 100 days, and patients, the public, and healthcare workers are suffering due to the standoff between the government and medical organizations."

The union also stated, "Training hospitals are shifting the responsibility for the management crisis onto workers. Meanwhile, public hospitals are still struggling to recover from COVID-19," pointing out that "public healthcare, essential medical services, and public medical institutions are in crisis."

Professors affiliated with Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Yongin Severance Hospital under Yonsei Medical Center have announced that they will begin an indefinite strike starting on the 27th in protest against the government.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The union said, "This rally is a place to resolve the victory of the 2024 sectoral collective bargaining struggle and to declare the fight for 'proper medical reform' to correct the distorted medical system and revive public healthcare, essential medical services, and public medical institutions," demanding ▲ establishment of healthcare workforce standards ▲ clarification of work scope ▲ strengthening of public hospital capabilities ▲ and prioritizing the placement of increased doctors in regional essential public medical services.

Earlier, the Emergency Committee of Yonsei University College of Medicine professors resolved to implement an indefinite suspension of medical services until the government takes 'visible measures' to reverse the policy of increasing medical school quotas. The suspension is scheduled to begin on the 27th.

Professors affiliated with Yonsei University College of Medicine and its hospitals will suspend services for one day on the 18th due to the 'Korean Medical Association general strike,' and from the 27th, they will enter an indefinite suspension. This means that following Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital has also decided on an indefinite suspension. Some express concerns that four of the five major hospitals in Seoul could face indefinite service stoppages.

As doctors' collective actions become visible, not only the KHMU but also patient groups have issued protest statements. The Korea Severe Disease Alliance held an emergency press conference on the 12th at the back gate of Seoul National University Hospital, condemning, "With the Korean Medical Association's full suspension on the 18th, patients with severe diseases are being driven to death," and questioned, "While claiming to think about the future of medicine and trainees, are they coldly rejecting the pleas of patients whose lives are immediately at risk?"

They continued, "Now, patients with severe diseases are in a position where 'death' cases, not just 'damage' cases, are being reported," urging, "(Professors) to regain the reason to discern what is truly important."