73.6% of Respondents Say 'Sustainable Resistance' Needed
"Cannot Leave Patient Harm Happening Now As Is"
"Not Accepting Half-Baked Policies from an Uncommunicative Government"
Professors at Seoul National University College of Medicine, who had entered an indefinite strike as of the 17th, will suspend the strike starting next week.
The Emergency Response Committee of the Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital Professors' Council (Seoul Medical College Emergency Committee) announced this in a statement on the 21st. According to the Seoul Medical College Emergency Committee, a vote conducted on the 20th and 21st among all professors at four hospitals (Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Metropolitan Boramae Hospital, Gangnam Center) showed that out of 948 respondents, 698 (73.6%) answered that the strike should be suspended and transitioned to a 'sustainable form of resistance.'
Those who believed the strike should continue numbered 192 (20.3%). Regarding the question about specific methods of action (multiple responses allowed) , 75.4% agreed that 'monitoring and criticizing the policy-making process and proposing alternatives' is necessary, and 55.4% responded that solidarity with the broader medical community is needed. Additionally, 65.6% of professors answered that working hours should be adjusted to a sustainable and appropriate level considering the safety of patients and medical staff.
Accordingly, the Seoul Medical College Emergency Committee announced that after this week, during which medical services have already been altered, the full strike will be suspended starting next Monday according to the voting results. The committee stated, "Although care for severe, intractable, and emergency patients that could not be postponed was maintained even during the full strike, given the characteristics of Seoul National University Hospital, if the current situation prolongs, actual harm could occur to severe patients whose care is being maintained," adding, "This is the greatest concern of our professors who have stood by patients during the medical crisis and have selectively treated patients who must be seen even during the strike."
They continued, "Members of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee also earnestly urged us out of concern for actual patient harm. The patient associations and consumer groups we met with shared the same sentiment," they added.
While the full strike will end, resistance will continue. The committee said, "The reason we are suspending the full strike is because we cannot allow patient harm that could occur immediately to continue," emphasizing, "It is not because we accept the immature policies of an incompetent and uncommunicative government."
They further stated, "The responsibility for the upcoming chaos and collapse in the medical and educational sectors lies entirely with the government. We will continue our resistance, and if the government’s irresponsible decisions increase threats to the public’s right to health, we will resolve to take active measures again," emphasizing, "We will monitor the policy-making process and raise voices of criticism and alternatives, and to this end, we will also build solidarity with the entire medical community."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
