[Breaking] Government: "All Patients Will Be Prosecuted If Unilateral Appointment Cancellations Cause Harm"

On the 18th, as local clinics and hospitals led by the Korea Medical Association (KMA) began a collective strike, the government announced it would take strict action against illegal activities.

Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on doctors' collective action, "If hospitals unilaterally cancel medical treatments without prior notice to patients, causing harm, they will be fully prosecuted for 'refusal of treatment' under Article 15 of the Medical Service Act."

Minister Cho added, "If a medical service gap becomes a reality, we will conduct on-site inspections and evidence collection, followed by administrative sanctions such as suspension of operations under the Medical Service Act." He also said, "We plan to strongly respond by requesting investigations into social network service (SNS) posts that outwardly claim voluntary participation but actually encourage illegal collective refusal of treatment."