All Medical Professions to Hold Major Debate on the 26th of Next Month... Closure Unavoidable

"Demand for Government to Show a More Progressive Attitude"

A major forum involving all medical professions will be held on the 26th of next month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Medical Association (KMA) on the 29th, the medical council 'Special Committee for Proper Medical Care' (Olteukwi) held its second meeting that day and decided to hold a forum on the 26th of next month with participation from doctors across all professions. There was no official resolution for a strike during the Olteukwi meeting that day. However, doctors intending to participate in the forum are expected to take leave and thus be absent from work.

Previously, the Jeonui Association held a general meeting on the 27th to discuss a plan for medical school professors nationwide to take leave on the 26th of next month, with the final decision to be made at the Olteukwi second meeting.

Olteukwi stated that "the hearing held by the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee on the 26th revealed to the public that the increase in medical school quotas and the essential medical package were unilaterally pushed forward without prior consultation with the medical community," and also claimed that "the government's plan to increase medical school quotas by 2,000 was confirmed once again to have been hastily implemented without scientific evidence."

They added, "Olteukwi demands that the government acknowledge its policy failures and show a progressive change in attitude by accepting the demands of residents and medical students."