Seoul National University Hospital Union: "Eliminating Free Caregiver Referral Service at Hospital Increases Caregiving Burden"

Press Conference in Front of Seoul National University Main Building on the 7th
"Patients Increasing Care Costs by Using Paid Platforms"
"Caregivers Facing Job Insecurity"

The Medical Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which includes the Seoul National University Hospital Labor Union, held a press conference on the 7th in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital, demanding the hospital to resume operating the free caregiver introduction center, stating that "the hospital's closure of the free caregiver introduction center has increased the burden of caregiving."

According to the union, Seoul National University Hospital has been operating a free caregiver introduction center since 1988, and in 2004, it signed a 'caregiving agreement' with three companies, through which caregivers were introduced to patients free of charge.

The agreement included provisions such as "caregivers cannot refuse patients" and "no amount beyond the set caregiving fee can be requested from patients or their guardians."

Members of the Seoul Regional Branch of the Medical Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) are shouting slogans on the 7th in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital, condemning the termination of the nursing care agreement and the closure of the free nursing care introduction center at Seoul National University Hospital.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

As a result, the caregiving cost burden for patients at Seoul National University Hospital was reduced, and caregivers were able to perform their duties while receiving stable education and management. However, earlier this year, the hospital unilaterally terminated the caregiving agreement, stating that "introduction services cannot be exclusively given to only three companies."

The union pointed out that with the termination of the agreement, these companies switched to paid services, causing patients to find caregivers through paid platforms, which increased caregiving costs.

The union explained that some paid platform companies charged guardians a "matching fee" and also received what is presumed to be an introduction fee from caregivers, and there were cases where caregivers refused patients, saying "the patient's condition is worse than expected, so we cannot take care of them."

The union also emphasized that caregivers who had worked at Seoul National University Hospital for a long time faced job insecurity due to the termination of the agreement, and that the involvement of external caregivers was causing disruptions in work.

Moon Myeong-sun, head of the Hope Caregivers Branch who attended the press conference, claimed, "Suddenly, the hospital's demand to find caregivers through platform sites has led to caregivers who are not even enrolled in liability insurance demanding excessive caregiving fees and failing to properly care for patients."

Song Seung-ri, an activist from the health-related civic group Health World Network, said, "The Seoul National University Hospital agreement companies have mediated patients, guardians, and caregivers without commission for 20 years, reducing cost burdens and creating quality employment and services. I am curious why the hospital is pushing to use platforms and shifting the cost burden to patients' families," criticizing, "The termination of the agreement is encouraging the commercialization of caregiving services."

Yoon Tae-seok, head of the Seoul National University Hospital branch, said, "The caregiving agreement was not an exclusive contract but a contract that maintained minimum caregiving quality and prevented skyrocketing caregiving fees," urging, "Hospital Director Kim Young-tae should restore the caregiving agreement and maintain the free caregiver introduction center to uphold medical publicness."

The hospital stated that the termination of the caregiving agreement was to ensure fair opportunity guarantees.

Seoul National University Hospital explained, "The hospital terminated the existing caregiving agreement to guarantee patients' and guardians' freedom to choose caregiving companies and to provide fair opportunities," adding, "This decision aims to create an environment where patients and guardians can freely select caregiving companies and to establish a foundation for various caregiving companies to provide services."