KMA Forces Mass Strike and Rally... Government Warns "Unilateral Cancellation of Medical Services Will Lead to Prosecution"

On the 18th, Nationwide Hospital and Clinic Closures Led by the Korean Medical Association
Government Warns "All Patients Will Be Prosecuted if Unilateral Appointment Cancellations Cause Harm"

On the 18th, private practitioners nationwide and professors from major university hospitals engaged in a government strike led by the Korean Medical Association (KMA).

The KMA will also hold a nationwide doctors' rally at 2 p.m. on the same day in Yeouido, Seoul. The KMA stated, "This strike and rally are not about protecting doctors' livelihoods but about preventing the collapse of our country's healthcare system due to the government's flawed medical policies."

On the 17th, when professors at Seoul National University Hospital began an indefinite strike demanding the resolution of the resident doctors' issue, medical staff were seen passing between beds placed near the operating rooms at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

As some primary care institutions, including local clinics nationwide, closed, patients experienced inconvenience in receiving medical treatment. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is compiling the strike rate of private practitioners this morning, while the KMA does not independently calculate the strike rate.

Along with Seoul National University Hospital, which began an indefinite strike on the 17th, professors from the ‘Big 5’ university hospitals?Seoul Asan Hospital, Severance Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital?also declared a collective strike on the 18th. However, it was found that not many university hospital professors actually stopped outpatient care and surgeries on that day.

According to each hospital, outpatient care at Seoul Asan Hospital on the morning of the 18th proceeded at nearly the same level as after the departure of residents, and surgeries decreased by 10-20%. At Samsung Seoul Hospital and Severance Hospital, both outpatient care and surgeries were at levels similar to those after the residents left. Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital continued scheduled surgeries normally, with outpatient care decreasing by about 5%. On the 17th, the first day of the indefinite strike at Seoul National University Hospital, outpatient care and surgeries decreased by about 20%. The hospital reported that the outpatient care strike rate on the morning of the 18th slightly decreased.

The government stated regarding the medical community’s collective strike, "We will respond firmly and strictly to illegal acts." Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on doctors’ collective action, "Following the issuance of treatment orders and strike notification orders to about 36,000 medical institutions nationwide on the 10th, a work commencement order will be issued at 9 a.m. today."

Minister Cho said, "If a medical vacuum materializes, we will proceed with administrative measures such as suspension of work under the Medical Service Act after on-site inspections and evidence collection," adding, "We will also request investigations into social network service (SNS) posts that encourage illegal collective refusal of treatment under the guise of voluntary participation." On the 14th, the government sent a prohibition order against collective action and incitement to the KMA executive board, and on the 15th, reported the KMA to the Fair Trade Commission for violating the Fair Trade Act by encouraging illegal refusal of treatment. Minister Cho stated, "If hospitals unilaterally cancel treatments without prior notice to patients, they will be prosecuted for refusal of treatment under Article 15 of the Medical Service Act."

The government plans to strengthen the emergency medical system in preparation for the spread and prolongation of the medical community’s strike. Public medical institution beds will be operated at maximum capacity, and night and holiday medical services will be expanded. Measures such as expanding telemedicine, increasing on-duty hours for physician assistant (PA) nurses, and concentrating military doctors and public health doctors in essential medical fields will also be implemented.

To ensure cancer patient care, the National Cancer Center will operate its beds at maximum capacity and establish a hotline with the ‘Big 5’ university hospitals and the National Cancer Center. Additionally, a nationwide rotating duty system for major diseases will be implemented to minimize disruptions in the treatment of critically ill and emergency patients.