"Reconsider Medical School Expansion"... Korean Medical Association Announces 3 Major Government Demands

Demands for Reconsideration of Medical School Expansion, Revision of Essential Medical Package, and Cancellation of Administrative Orders
"Please Respond by 11 PM on the 16th"
"If Not Accepted, Full Strike on the 18th Followed by Indefinite Suspension"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) announced on the 16th three major demands to the government, including a reconsideration of the increase in medical school admissions, and stated that if the government accepts these demands, the previously announced 'collective strike on the 18th' will be put on hold pending a vote by all members. The KMA also stated that if the government does not accept the demands, they will proceed with a full strike on the 18th and continue an indefinite strike thereafter.

In a press release on the same day, the KMA disclosed three demands to the government: ▲ reconsideration of the medical school admission increase plan ▲ modification and supplementation of contentious issues in the essential medical care policy package ▲ immediate retroactive cancellation of all administrative orders and sanctions related to residents and medical students, and cessation of threats of legal action.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has announced a full strike on the 18th, and the government is expected to publicly disclose the medical institutions participating in the collective strike as early as the 14th. The photo shows a notice of closure posted at the entrance of a clinic in downtown Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The KMA requested, "We ask the government to respond to the three demands by 11 p.m. on the 16th," and stated, "If the demands are accepted, the decision on whether to put the full strike on the 18th on hold will be made through a vote of all members on the 17th."

They added, "If the demands are not accepted, a nationwide collective strike will be carried out on the 18th, followed by a full-scale struggle including an indefinite strike."

The KMA revealed that, based on a survey conducted among all members at the National Medical Representatives Meeting held on the 9th, there was overwhelming support for confrontation with the government, and they announced plans to hold a full strike on the 18th along with a general rally.

Meanwhile, the government held a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting regarding the doctors' collective action on the same day and expressed "deep regret over the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and others pushing forward with the decision to collectively refuse medical treatment amid ongoing inconveniences to the public's medical access due to the prolonged doctors' collective action."

Han Duck-soo, head of the CDSCH, stated at the meeting, "There will be no disadvantages for residents who return, but it is difficult to accept demands to nullify measures taken according to the Constitution and laws as if they never existed," and added, "We earnestly hope the medical community will withdraw unreasonable demands, participate in medical reform, and become both the main agent and the brain of the process."