Outpatient-Seeking Community Pharmacies Are 'Quiet', Neighborhood Pharmacies Are 'Tense'

Some Local Clinic Doctors Also Join Strike
Neighborhood Pharmacies Concerned Over 'Indefinite Strike Declaration'

At around 10 a.m. on the 19th, in front of Seoul National University Hospital in Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The street lined with pharmacies was quiet. Occasionally, one or two customers holding prescription papers entered the pharmacies. Mr. Lee (55), who runs a pharmacy in front of Seoul National University Hospital, said, "Before the hospital closure began, the subway station was crowded with people, but now it is empty. The number of customers, which was already decreasing, has dropped even more in the past week," adding, "If the closure continues, some pharmacies may go bankrupt," shaking his head.

The situation was similar near Korea University Anam Hospital in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Pharmacist Mr. Kim (50) said, "Customers from Anam Hospital make up 95% of all customers, so if the closure is enforced, it will have a significant impact on pharmacy management," adding, "We cannot reduce staff, so the biggest concern is the burden of labor costs."

Around 10 a.m. on the 19th, a pharmacy in front of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Despite being the busy morning hours when customers usually gather, it appears quiet.
[Photo by Shim Seong-a]

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has been enforcing a collective strike since the 18th, holding a large rally in Yeouido, Seoul, and declared an indefinite strike starting from the 27th, creating a bleak atmosphere in pharmacies near major hospitals and neighborhood pharmacies across Seoul.

Unlike previous strikes by residents or some medical staff at large hospitals, this time some doctors from neighborhood clinics and hospitals have also joined the strike, causing evident tension among pharmacies near these clinics. Mr. Lee Min-seong (60), who runs a pharmacy in Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "On the day of the rally on the 18th, customers suddenly stopped coming during the day," adding, "I am worried that private clinics might also go on strike."

According to an inspection by Seoul City on the 18th of 10,116 clinics and hospitals across 25 districts, the strike rate was 16.1% as of 4 p.m. Under the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s 'Local Government Guidelines for Collective Actions by Private Practitioners,' if the strike rate in a district exceeds a certain threshold by violating the order to resume work, administrative sanctions for violating the Medical Service Act may be imposed.

According to Article 59, Paragraph 2 of the Medical Service Act, if medical staff stop treatment without justifiable reason or if medical institution operators collectively close or suspend operations causing or likely to cause significant disruption to patient care, and if the order to resume work is violated, they may face a 15-day suspension of business and imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Pharmacist Mr. Yoo (53), who runs a pharmacy in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, said, "If the indefinite strike declared by the KMA continues, managing pharmacies will become very difficult," adding, "I hope the issue is resolved as soon as possible."

Regarding the KMA’s planned 'indefinite strike' starting on the 27th, a Ministry of Health and Welfare official stated, "We will carefully observe and consider the exact intent and decision-making process of the strike," adding, "Once the strike plan becomes clear, we will prepare without delay for situations where the state must intervene, considering the scale and duration."