President Yoon: "We will strictly respond to illegal acts abandoning patients"

Insisting on Unrealistic Claims Makes Everyone a Victim
Emergency Medical System Review... Rapid Advancement of Healthcare Reform

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 18th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized on the 18th that regarding the medical community's collective strike, centered around the Korea Medical Association (KMA), "If one insists on demands that the public does not agree with and that are impossible to realize, everyone inevitably becomes a victim," and stated, "We will strictly respond to illegal actions that abandon patients."

In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, President Yoon said, "The government has the responsibility to protect the lives and health of the people." This aligns with the government's plan to issue work commencement orders to private practitioners and to prosecute doctors who unilaterally cancel medical treatments in response to the KMA's collective strike.

Following the previous day, President Yoon again defined the KMA's collective action as an "illegal refusal of medical treatment," expressing that he finds it "very regrettable and unfortunate."

He added, "To achieve genuine medical reform, above all, the opinions of the medical field are important, and the participation of the medical community is necessary," and urged, "Please participate in the social consultative body, the Medical Reform Special Committee, and share your opinions, rather than resorting to extreme methods that threaten patients' lives and health."

He also requested medical students and residents to return to the medical field, stating, "Collective actions that abandon patients' suffering and pain are undesirable both personally and nationally." To them, he promised, "We will take all necessary measures so that you can properly continue your studies and training."

He emphasized that while the doctors' collective action is ongoing, the emergency medical system will be activated and medical reform will continue to be pursued.

President Yoon added, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare should thoroughly inspect the emergency medical system once again in cooperation with local governments so that the public does not feel anxious due to confusion in the medical field," and urged, "Please proceed with the medical reform tasks at a swift pace so that they can be fully realized."