Medical Students Protest in Suits After Removing Gowns

On the First Day of Resident Strike, On-site Visit Reveals
Partial Disruption in Screening Clinics
Medical Services Expected to Be Affected from Next Week
Medical Gap If Fellows Join the Strike

Seungmin Kwak (24), a third-year student at Seoul National University College of Medicine, protested with a placard in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital, opposing the government's medical policy, including the expansion of medical school quotas.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] "Please listen to the voices of the medical community and students who are concerned about the infringement of the people's right to health."

At 9 a.m. on the 21st, when residents began a strike opposing the government's medical policy, Gwak Seung-min (24), a third-year student at Seoul National University College of Medicine, stood in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Holding a placard that read "The dream of public healthcare abandoned by superficial policies," Gwak wore a suit instead of a doctor's gown that day. He said, "The government's medical policies, such as adjusting medical school quotas and establishing new medical schools, were implemented without consultation with doctors working on the front lines," adding, "I joined the protest because I believe that pushing policies without dialogue and blindly enforcing them can infringe on the people's right to health." He explained, "I wore a suit to express my opinion seriously not as a student in training but for the patients visiting the hospital." Students at Seoul National University College of Medicine are currently opposing the government's medical policies by boycotting classes and holding relay protests. They are also considering a joint leave of absence with other universities.

◆Disruptions in Operation of Screening Clinics in Some Areas= Starting today, the Korean Intern Resident Association began striking with interns and fourth-year residents. The association announced that essential personnel in emergency rooms and operating rooms will also participate in the strike. On the 22nd, third-year residents, followed by first- and second-year residents on the 23rd, will join the indefinite strike one after another. Hospitals have responded by deploying fellows (clinical instructors) as they did during the first and second resident strikes.

However, amid the resurgence of COVID-19, some hospitals are expected to face difficulties in operating emergency rooms and screening clinics. Seoul St. Mary's Hospital has reduced inpatient numbers since the day before and cut operating room operations by about 30-40% today. A representative from St. Mary's Hospital said, "Professors have been treating emergency patients, while residents have been in charge of the screening clinics, so reducing staff for screening clinics is inevitable." They added, "If professors take on on-call duties for outpatient care, there are cases where they cannot see patients the next day," and "There will be an impact on medical care starting early next week." The situation at Severance Hospital is similar. A Severance Hospital representative said, "Some residents were participating in the operation of screening and safe clinics, but fellows are being deployed as substitutes," and "After the fellows' strike next week, we will have to devise new measures."

On the 21st, medical residents training at general hospitals, including interns and residents, went on strike in opposition to the government's policy to increase the quota of medical school students. A medical resident is holding a solo protest in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

◆If Fellows Also Join the Strike, 'Medical Service Gaps' Are Inevitable= Fellows, also called clinical instructors, formed an association on the 18th and announced that they will begin a sequential strike from the 24th and hold a nationwide general strike on the 26th. Hospitals are concerned that this strike will cause significant disruption to medical sites, unlike the previous two resident strikes and the doctors' association-led strike. Seoul National University Hospital decided to handle 8,000 scheduled appointments without rescheduling by deploying fellows today. However, if fellows start striking from the 24th, they will have to revise their response plans. A Seoul National University Hospital official said, "The key is how many fellows will participate in the strike." Seoul Asan Medical Center also adjusted surgery schedules today and reduced inpatient and outpatient care by about 10%. Regarding the fellows' strike, they said, "We are preparing detailed personnel adjustment plans."

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